Search and rescue efforts were underway early Tuesday in western Colombia after the region was rocked by a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that killed at least 111 people, damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings and left many trapped under debris. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.

In the city of Pereira, search teams and civilians picked through the remains of destroyed buildings, as seen in AP video by Marko Alvarez.

In Cali, rescue workers and residents searched through the rubble, as captured by AP photographer Santiago Saldarriaga. In Pereira, AP photographer Fernando Vergara documented the rescue efforts.

A vehicle was crushed by debris after the earthquake struck Cali, as shown in an AP photo by Juan Diaz.

People asked for silence during the search for survivors in Cali, as seen in an AP photo by Santiago Saldarriaga.

The earthquake left many people trapped under debris, and rescue teams continued their search. Hundreds of buildings were damaged or destroyed.

Local authorities warned that the death toll could rise as rescue operations continued.

This earthquake may become one of the most devastating natural disasters in Colombia's history. Rescuers and volunteers worked around the clock to find people trapped under the rubble.

Associated Press reported the story through its correspondents Astrid Suárez, Manuel Rueda, and Megan Janetsky. They noted that the earthquake struck on Sunday, and its effects were still being felt.

Specialists involved in rescue efforts used specialized equipment and dogs to locate people under the debris. However, as time passed, the chances of finding survivors diminished.

The Colombian government sent additional aid to the affected areas, providing medical and psychological support to victims.

The earthquake caused significant damage to infrastructure in western Colombia, destroying roads and bridges and disrupting communication systems.

Local residents also actively participated in rescue efforts, using whatever tools they had to dig through rubble and try to save their neighbors.

The death toll could rise as many people may still be trapped under debris. Rescuers worked around the clock, continuing search operations.

The earthquake in Colombia drew international attention, with global organizations offering assistance. But the focus remained on rescue operations.