ESPRIELLA DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY FOLLOWING EARTHQUAKE

BOGOTA, AUGUST 12 /SRNA – RIA Novosti/ - Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella signed a decree declaring a state of natural disaster in the country following a powerful earthquake, the newspaper El Tiempo reported.

Colombia was hit by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake on Monday.

The epicentre was located near the municipality of San José del Palmar in the Chocó region. Tremors were felt across much of Colombia and in neighbouring countries.

According to the latest data, at least 190 people were killed and 1,679 injured in the earthquake.