Powerful earthquake kills hundreds in western Colombia

A powerful earthquake hit western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 111 people. The 7.4-magnitude quake is the strongest ever recorded in the country. The cities of Cali, Pereira, and Manizales were all badly affected. In Cali alone, 85 people died. More than 1,300 others were injured, and over 2,700 people were reported missing by Monday night. At least 153 buildings fell down, and hundreds more were damaged. A historic cathedral tower in Manizales was cracked by the quake. Rescue teams, soldiers, police, and volunteers worked through the night, searching the rubble for survivors. Excavators helped clear debris where buildings had collapsed. The earthquake struck Colombia's coffee-growing region in the west of the country.