The powerful earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, Aug. 10, with its epicentre near San José del Palmar in Chocó department, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) west of Bogotá.

The quake was felt across much of the country and was reported as one of Colombia's strongest earthquakes in decades.

Latest developments:

Rescue operations are continuing. Crews are digging through rubble in affected communities, with reports of people still trapped or unaccounted for. Earlier reports said thousands of people had been reported missing, although those figures were expected to change as communications were restored and authorities verified reports.
Pereira, Cali and Manizales are among the major urban areas reporting significant damage, while communities closer to the epicenter in Chocó have also been badly affected. Buildings collapsed or sustained structural damage, complicating rescue efforts.
The death toll is still changing rapidly. Reports have moved from 47 deaths shortly after the quake to more than 100 and then 169 as rescuers reached damaged areas. Some international reports have already cited higher preliminary figures, underscoring the difficulty of establishing a definitive toll while searches continue.
Aftershocks remain a major concern. A strong earthquake can produce numerous aftershocks in the days and weeks that follow. Local reports said dozens had already been recorded after Monday's main shock. Damaged buildings are particularly vulnerable to additional shaking.

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