Damage seen across city of Manizales, including building collapsepublished at 16:38 BST 10 August

16:38 BST 10 August

Image source, X

By Richard Irvine-Brown and Sherie Ryder

BBC Verify has authenticated two clips from the Colombian city of Manizales, showing the extent of destruction brought by the earthquake.

On the western side of the city, damage to buildings can be seen including the clocktower of the Cathedral Basilica now slumped at a dangerous angle.

Meanwhile, a video from the eastern side shows a five-storey building collapsing while people are evacuated from the city's Catholic University across the street.

Colombia's civil aviation authority, Aeronáutica Civil, says operations have been suspended at least seven airports in Colombia following the earthquake.

It says damage has been reported at Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura airports, and so operations have been suspended for safety reasons.

In addition, operations at Popayán Airport has been suspended due to the presence of ash from the Puracé volcano.

The agency says it will "continue to monitor the situation and will report any developments in a timely manner".

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has released a shake map of the 7.4 magnitude quake that struck western Colombia.

It shows that the epicentre occurred 107km (66 miles) deep in San Jose del Palmar, in the nation's Chocó region, with both "strong" to "very strong" shaking recorded across a much a wider area.

Image source, USGC

José Carlos Cueto
BBC Mundo correspondent, reporting from Colombia

Around 7:34 am (13:34 BST), the taxi I was traveling in through Bogotá started to shake.

The driver and I got out and went into the street, with the ground moving under our feet.

There were trembling trees, traffic lights and buildings.

People had gathered outside their houses and workplaces.

The quake seemed to last about two minutes.

In an early report, Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernand Galán says there are some cracks, but no major damage to infrastructure.

At least 20 buildings have collapsed in Cali, with people trapped inside, according to the city's mayor.

Speaking to Reuters news agency, Alejandro Eder says he has requested support with rescue workers from the mayor of Bogota and the mayor of Medellin.

Eder asks citizens to remain calm and to check for any apparent structural damage at their homes.

"If you don't feel safe, if you see very large cracks, please exit the building," he adds.

Image source, EPA

The BBC is working to verify social media footage of the earthquakes.

Some of the clips we've confirmed as authentic show distraught scenes as people react to the destruction happening around them.

One video shows the collapse of an entire section of what appears to be an apartment building, with people screaming as they watch from the street.

Another shows damage to Manizales Catheral, where a clock tower is now leaning heavily to one side.

Footage from a hospital shows people fleeing between parked ambulances as part of the building's facade crumbles.

Image source, Reuters

There are also two people dead in city of Manizales, the mayor told Colombia's Blu Radio.

That brings the toll to at least 20 people dead after the quake, according to local officials.

At least 18 people have died after a large earthquake struck western Colombia, according to the mayor of the city of Pereira.

Mauricio Salazar told Caracol Radio that 18 people were killed and others were trapped in collapsed buildings.

Here are some of the first pictures we're receiving from on the ground in Colombia:

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

The governor of Colombia's western region of Chocó says the earthquake has caused "injuries and serious damage to buildings" in the region's capital of Quibdó.

Nubia Carolina Córdoba-Curi writes on X that the region has "experienced a major earthquake" and is "concerned about aftershocks".

She says injuries and damage to buildings have occurred despite the epicentre being located in nearby San José del Palmar.

"We are already conducting a damage assessment to issue the first official report," Córdoba-Curi adds.

Mimi Swaby
Global affairs reporter

Four people are reportedly trapped in a collapsed four-storey building in Quibdo following the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck parts of Colombia.

The tremor was felt in cities across the country - as well as neighbouring Venezuela.

Videos on social media show damaged and collapsed buildings, including a cathedral in the city of Manizales which has suffered damage.

Building evacuations have occurred in several cities as officials assess the extent of the damage and risk of aftershocks.

Six airports across the country have also halted operations.

Image source, Reuters

Colombia's President, Abelardo De La Espriella, who was sworn in just days ago, says he has personally taken charge of the emergency response following the 7.4 magnitude earthquake.

Writing on X, he says: "I have ordered the establishment of a Unified Command Post to coordinate the response to the damage and assist those affected."

"I will also be in Pereira in person to stand with those affected and monitor the government’s response. You are not alone. The government is here and taking action," he adds.

A large earthquake has shaken western Colombia, with a magnitude of 7.4, according to the US Geological Survey.

At least 20 buildings collapsed in the city of Cali, with people trapped inside, says Mayor Alejandro Eder according to Reuters News Agency.

The epicentre is in San José del Palmar, in the Choco region, between the cities of Cali and Medellin - recorded at 82 kilometres deep.

Officials have also reported injuries and severe damage to buildings in the cities of Quibdo and Pereira.