A catastrophic earthquake of magnitude 7.4 rocked western Colombia on Monday, resulting in the death of over 111 individuals and causing extensive damage to numerous buildings, leaving many trapped under debris as loved ones and rescue teams sifted through the wreckage. The epicenter of the quake was situated in San Jose Del Palmar, a community of approximately 4,800 people in the Choco region, around 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Bogota. President Abelardo de la Espriella confirmed that at least 87 people were injured and around 1,600 buildings were damaged, including at least 61 that completely collapsed. The Pacific region around the quake's epicenter lies along the "Ring of Fire," a line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean where most of the world's earthquakes occur. The aftermath of the disaster has left many in Colombia unnerved, recalling the devastation caused by recent earthquakes in neighboring Venezuela. Local authorities reported that the death toll included at least 40 people who were killed in the Risaralda region, where Pereira is located, and 27 people in the Valle del Cauca region, where Cali is located. The quake also affected cities across western Colombia, including Quibdo, Manizales, and was felt in neighboring Ecuador and Panama. Emergency funding has been declared to expedite recovery efforts, and the President has pledged to visit the disaster zone.