Colombia earthquake rescuers race to find survivors in rubble as death toll rises to at least 181

Rescue workers and volunteers rushed to clear rubble as they searched for survivors in Colombia on Tuesday after the country was struck by its strongest earthquake on record.

At least 181 people died and more than 1,300 were injured in the earthquake, the mayors of major affected cities said in a joint statement.

More than 3,000 people were reported missing. Many families posted information about loved ones online, hoping for information about their fate.

The 7.4-magnitude quake struck cities across Colombia's western region shortly after 7:30 a.m. local time Monday, sending panicked residents onto the streets.

The city of Pereira, one of the hardest hit, was plunged into darkness Monday evening as volunteers combed through the remains of collapsed buildings searching for survivors.

Volunteers searched the ruins of a six-story building of shops and offices where two girls were believed to be trapped.

"It's so sad to see the whole city like this, knowing that there may still be people alive under there," said Juana Marin, 25, who joined dozens of volunteers clearing rubble by hand.

"We're without power. This seems honestly like a zombie city," resident Juan David Gaitan said.

The country's president, Abelardo de la Espriella, who had been on the job for only three days, declared a state of emergency and vowed a concerted rescue effort.

Around 1,600 buildings across the country were reported damaged or collapsed, with rescue workers and volunteers seen clearing rubble by hand in some places.

In Cali, volunteers quickly went to work with picks, basic tools and their own hands to try to find survivors.

Andres Felipe Mejia was among those who joined a makeshift crew.

"One of the rescuers asked anyone trapped to whistle, and someone whistled back," he said near a pancaked building.

"They pulled out a man and a baby, but the wife is still in there," he said.

Hospitals in five Colombian cities were put on red alert Monday and a nighttime curfew was declared in Cali, according to local authorities.

"It felt like the end of the world — cars and motorcycles driving the wrong way, everyone searching for their loved ones," said volunteer rescue worker Nelson Moreno.

De la Espriella announced Monday night that he had mobilized "the entire military and police apparatus" to respond to the temblor.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a social media post on Monday that the Trump administration was closely monitoring the earthquake response and "stands ready to support the people of Colombia." The U.S. announced $15.5 million in emergency relief.