The death toll from the powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia has risen to 132, with an additional 570 people injured.

The disaster, which hit on Monday, August 10, has been followed by a series of successive aftershocks, triggering widespread devastation across several western cities.

Key Impacts and Devastation
A total of 86 buildings have collapsed, and operations at seven airports remain suspended. Severe damage was reported in the western cities of Cali, Pereira, Quibdo, and Manizales.

The Colombian Association of Capital Cities announced that a maximum red alert has been issued across five capital cities.

Rescuers are facing an acute shortage of heavy machinery as many people remain missing and trapped beneath the rubble.

Tremors were also felt in neighboring Ecuador and Panama.

Geological Details
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS):

• Magnitude: 7.4 (Recorded as the strongest earthquake of the 21st century in Colombia by the Colombian Geological Survey).
• Epicenter: San Jose del Palmar in the Choco region, located roughly 400 kilometers west of the capital, Bogota.
• Depth: 107 kilometers below the surface.
• Aftershocks: At least 21 aftershocks were felt within hours of the main quake.

On-the-Ground Reports
In Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, where at least 20 buildings collapsed and 380 were damaged, residents and volunteers have joined emergency crews in search-and-rescue efforts, forming human chains to clear massive concrete debris.

"It felt like a bomb blast," said Juan Carlos Osorio, a local helping clear rubble in Cali, speaking to Caracol Television. "We are working together as neighbors. We need heavy machinery; many people are still trapped."

Jorge Moncayo, a 64-year-old taxi driver in Cali, recalled the terrifying moments: "My whole house shook. I have never experienced such a powerful earthquake. We are thanking God that we are alive."

Government Response
The disaster presents the first major crisis for newly sworn-in President Abelardo de la Espriella, coming just days after taking office and amid lingering memories of two severe earthquakes that struck neighboring Venezuela last June.

In a nationwide address delivered at around 1:00 PM local time, President de la Espriella declared a National State of Emergency:

"The national government has mobilized all its capabilities to save human lives, assist affected populations, and deliver aid wherever it is needed," said de la Espriella, emphasizing that rescuing people trapped under the rubble remains the government's top priority.

Regional Casualties and Airport Closures
Risaralda: The coffee-producing region recorded at least 40 deaths, with heavy destruction in its capital, Pereira.

Valle del Cauca (Cali): At least 27 people, including three children, were killed in this region.

Airport Suspensions: Civil aviation authorities shut down operations at airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura as engineers inspect structural safety.

Situated along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, Colombia frequently experiences minor tremors locally known as temblores, though earthquakes exceeding a magnitude of 6.0 are rare.

The last catastrophe of this scale occurred in 1999 near the city of Armenia, where a 6.2-magnitude earthquake killed over 1,100 people.