Colombia: Dozens killed after large earthquake rocks region

A powerful earthquake shook western Colombia early on Monday morning.

Around five hours after the quake struck, officials around the country had reported at least 73 deaths, 67 of them just in two of the worst-hit states. Rescue teams were working to free residents after buildings collapsed in Cali and other cities.

The epicenter was on the eastern tip of the Choco province on Colombia's Pacific coast.

The mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder, said that at least 20 buildings had collapsed, in some cases with people trapped inside.

"Residents of Cali, we currently have at least 20 collapsed structures in the city with people trapped inside; we are already managing this emergency alongside all of Cali's rescue agencies," Eder said on Instagram, posting an accompanying video statement. "I have requested support — specifically rescue personnel — from the mayors of Bogota and Medellin."

Authorities in the Valle del Cauca, whose capital city is Cali, later said that at least 27 people had died in the quake.

Officials in Risaralda said that 40 people had died across the state, at least 18 of them in the capital Pereira based on earlier comments from the mayor.

And the mayor of Manizales, Jorge Eduardo Rojas, said in a radio interview that two people were killed in his city, in the Caldas region not far northeast of Pereira.