Search for people in rubble continues after Colombia earthquake

The death toll in Monday's earthquake in Colombia has risen to 132

with more than 570 people injured.

The 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck in western Colombia damaging

more than 1,600 buildings and leaving many trapped under debris

while their loved ones and rescue workers searched through rubble.

The powerful earthquake struck at 7.34 in the morning at a depth of 103 kilometres

in Choco province, the country's geological service said.

It was felt across hundreds of kilometres across western Colombia.

Just 55 kilometres from the earthquake's epicentre the city of Pereira

felt the brunt with many buildings collapsed and people trapped under the rubble.

Volunteers and rescue workers pass pieces of concrete and rubble down

a long line endeavouring to clear the area and to find those trapped.

The quake ravaged cities across western Colombia includes Cali,

Quibdo, Pereira and Manizales.

Soldiers were mobilised to join rescue workers in Choco,

as Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella met with

the governor of Choco Nubia Carolina Cordoba Curi.

The earthquake presents the first major test for de la Espriella

who was sworn in as the country's leader on Friday.

Seismologist Rodrigo Alejandro Leon Loya said a magnitude

7.4 earthquake in the area is unusual. He said the area is a

high frequency earthquake zone but they are usually small

and hardly ever felt, making a large earthquake

unusual.

The US State Department announced it would provide 15.5 million dollars

for emergency shelter, food and other aid.

Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez also offered

humanitarian and rescue assistance to its neighbour,

sending its Simon Bolicar international rescue brigade to help

those trapped under rubble.

She said additional rescue teams in Venezuela's western and

Andean states were also ready to be deployed if Colombia authorities

gave the go-ahead.