At least 80 people have been reported dead after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, collapsing buildings, closing airports and prompting a nationwide emergency response.
The earthquake struck at 07:34 local time in the Chocó region at a depth of 107 kilometers, according to the US Geological Survey, with strong shaking felt across Colombia and in neighboring Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama.
Authorities and rescue teams were searching damaged buildings as preliminary casualty figures continued to rise.
Risaralda emerged as one of the hardest-hit areas, with Governor Juan Diego Patiño reporting at least 40 deaths, while the police director in Pereira, Óscar Leonel Ochoa, gave a preliminary count of 47 fatalities and said more than 60 to 70 buildings had collapsed.
Chocó Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi reported nine deaths and another 80 people injured in the department.
At least two deaths were also reported in Manizales, where collapsed buildings and widespread structural damage were documented.
Cities including Pereira, Quibdo, Cali and Manizales were among those suffering significant damage.
President Abelardo de la Espriella convened an emergency committee, declared a state of national disaster and said he had personally taken charge of the government response in San José del Palmar.
Rescue soldiers were also being deployed to affected areas.
Colombia's civil aviation authority reported major disruption across western airports as officials assessed earthquake damage.
Airports serving Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura were restricted to medical and government flights, while another report said Quibdo was among six airports where operations had been suspended.
Flights from Popayán's Guillermo León Valencia Airport were separately restricted because of emissions from the Puracé volcano.
International offers of assistance followed, with El Salvador, Ecuador and Mexico pledging support.
Ecuador offered 47 rescuers, specialized dogs and equipment capable of operating for seven days, while El Salvador offered rescue teams, medical personnel, paramedics and supplies.
The earthquake comes less than two months after twin earthquakes devastated parts of Venezuela and killed more than 6,100 people.