More than 100 killed in Colombia after country's strongest earthquake this century hits

BOGOTA - At least 111 people were killed after a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, toppling buildings across several cities, damaging hospitals and infrastructure and trapping people beneath the rubble in what authorities called the country's strongest earthquake of the century. The quake struck just days after Abelardo De La Espriella was sworn in as president, thrusting the new administration into its first major crisis, with memories still fresh of devastating twin earthquakes in neighboring Venezuela in June. The US Geological Survey said the 7.4 magnitude quake struck at a depth of 107 km (66 miles). Colombia's geological service said it was the strongest earthquake recorded in the country in the 21st century. De La Espriella said preliminary reports indicated 111 dead and 87 injured, along with dozens of collapsed buildings and damaged homes.