The death toll from a powerful earthquake in western Colombia on Monday has reached 224, Reuters reports, citing local authorities.
As a result of the earthquake, buildings were destroyed in several cities. Some people were trapped under the rubble.
According to the US Geological Service (USGS), the magnitude of the earthquake was 7.4. The underground tremors occurred at a depth of about 107 kilometers in the region of the city of San Jose del Palmar in the Choco department on the country's Pacific coast. The earthquake was also felt in major cities of Colombia.
The natural disaster has become the first major crisis of the country's new administration. the earthquake occurred only a few days after Abelardo de la Espriella took office as president.
