At least 132 people have been killed and a state of emergency declared in Colombia after one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the country in years.

Authorities warned that the death toll and number of injured could rise as rescue teams continue searching for people believed to be trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings.

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Chocó region and was felt across neighbouring areas, according to Colombia’s geological authorities. The tremor reportedly occurred at a depth of 103 kilometres.

Most of the deaths have been reported in Pereira, a major city known for its coffee production.

Videos shared online showed residents fleeing buildings as the earthquake struck, while others ran to safety as high-rise structures were seen collapsing.

Rescue teams have been deployed to affected areas as authorities assess the extent of the destruction and continue search and rescue operations.