Today's Earthquake Update: A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia, leaving 132 people dead and 570 others injured

At least 132 people have been killed and 570 others injured after a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, CNN reported, citing the Colombian Association of Capital Cities.

The association, which took part in a disaster response meeting with President Abelardo de la Espriella, said the city of Pereira alone had recorded 60 deaths.

Five capital cities across the country have been placed under red alert, while 86 buildings have collapsed and operations at seven airports have been suspended, according to the association. Pereira, home to around 500,000 people, is located less than 64 kilometres from the earthquake’s epicentre, The New York Times reported.

Strong tremors were felt across several parts of Colombia, including the capital Bogotá, where alarms went off and residents of several buildings evacuated to the streets as a precaution.

President Abelardo de la Espriella earlier said that 1,577 residential buildings had sustained damage, with 37 completely destroyed. More than 60 buildings had collapsed, while 18 health centres and 52 schools were also damaged, according to The New York Times.

Risaralda, a department in western-central Colombia, has emerged as the worst-affected region, Governor Juan Diego Patino told Colombian radio station BluRadio, CNN reported.