OREANDA-NEWS  In Colombia, the death toll from a powerful earthquake has risen to 164 people, according to Reuters. Debris removal and search and rescue operations continue in the country.

Dozens of buildings collapsed in the city, and the tower of the historic cathedral collapsed in the city of Manizales.

In the city of Cali, home to about 2.2 million people, the upper floors of a large hospital collapsed, including children's departments. Some of the patients ended up under the rubble, and about six hundred patients have to be treated right on the street, the chief physician of the hospital told Caracol TV channel. According to officials, 85 people have been confirmed dead in Cali so far.

At least 66 people were killed in the city of Pereira, many buildings were damaged or collapsed, including the city airport. A curfew was declared at night in Cali and Pereira.

Earlier it was reported that Colombia declared a national disaster regime in order to speed up the search for funds to help the victims and rebuild the destroyed.

An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 occurred in the country on the morning of August 10.