Rescue efforts continued on Tuesday to locate no fewer than 3,000 people believed to be missing across several towns and cities in western Colombia following a 7.4-magnitude earthquake.

According to reports, at least 240 individuals are estimated to have been killed following the deadly earthquake, which hit parts of the country on Monday.

The country’s fire department announced on Tuesday via X, that it successfully rescued a 35-year-old man as rescue workers continue to search for more missing people.

“We found life under the rubble! At 3:57 a.m., the extraction manoeuvre for Carlos Esteban Rebolledo, 35 years old, who was trapped in a building, was successfully carried out. Every minute counts!” the fire department said.

The Associated Press reported that the mayors and governors from Cali, Pereira, Choco and Manizales confirmed a total of 179 people died across the four cities.

The report indicated that about 1,600 buildings across the country have been damaged.

On Monday, the Peoples Gazette reported that at least 20 people were killed as a deadly 7.4-magnitude earthquake tore through Colombia, damaging buildings and injuring some people.

The United States Geological Survey said the earthquake occurred at about 7:34 a.m. (local time, 8:34 a.m. Miami time), ripping through San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó, about 280 kilometres west of Bogotá, the country’s capital.

President Abelardo de la Espriella, who was sworn in last Friday, confirmed that at least 111 people were killed.

The president said 18 health centres, 52 educational centres, 17 community centres and 18 roads were damaged by the earthquake.

“The national government has all of its capabilities deployed to protect lives, assist affected communities and deliver aid wherever it is needed. The first priority is rescuing the people trapped under the rubble,” Mr Espriella stated.

Earlier, the Colombian government declared a state of national disaster after the death toll rose to 132.