Major earthquake claims 111 lives in Colombia

PEREIRA: At least 111 people were killed after a powerful earthquake str­uck western Colombia ear­ly on Monday, knocking down buildings across several cities and injuring 87 others, with still more residents trapped in the rubble. The 7.4-magnitude qua­ke, with its epicenter in the coastal Choco region at a depth of 100km, struck at 7:34am, triggering a frantic search for survivors in several cities and thrusting the new administration into its first major crisis as Colombia declared a state of emergency. “The national government is maintaining all its capacities deployed to protect lives, assist affected communities and deliver aid to every area that needs it,” President Abelardo de la…