At least 47 dead as 7.4-magnitude quake hits Colombia's Choco; toll likely to rise

A powerful earthquake struck Colombia's Pacific coast on Monday, causing injuries and significant damage in the province of Choco and rattling the capital Bogota, according to provincial governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi.

The tremor was felt as far away as the border with Venezuela, according to Reuters witnesses. The death toll has risen to at least 47, authorities said. In Pereira, 18 people were killed and others were trapped in buildings that collapsed, mayor Mauricio Salazar told Caracol Radio, while two people were killed in Manizales, mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas said in an interview with Blu Radio, according to Reuters.

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The US Tsunami Warning System said no tsunami warning has been issued following the quake, Reuters reported. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) put the earthquake's magnitude at 7.1.

Seismological agencies have reported varying magnitudes for the quake. The US Geological Survey earlier measured the earthquake's magnitude at 7.4, with the tremor occurring at 7:34 am local time near the town of San Jose del Palmar in Choco province, according to the Colombian Geological Service.

Colombia's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) said the 7:34 am quake had a magnitude of 6.6 and a depth of 79 km, and that it was in contact with local authorities to verify potential damage.

Damage assessment underway in Choco

Governor Cordoba-Curi said the epicenter was near San Jose del Palmar, but there were injuries and significant damage to buildings in the capital, Quibdo, and that a damage assessment was underway with a first official report expected shortly. She also flagged concerns over possible aftershocks.

With inputs from Reuters, AP