At least 132 people have been killed and more than 570 injured after a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, triggering widespread destruction, collapsing buildings and a major rescue operation across parts of the country.

The death toll, reported by the Colombian Association of Capital Cities, was expected to rise as emergency teams continued searching damaged and collapsed structures for survivors.

The earthquake struck at about 7:34 am local time on Monday, with its epicentre near San José del Palmar in the western department of Chocó, roughly 280 km west of Bogotá. The US Geological Survey placed the depth of the earthquake at about 107 km.

The powerful tremor was felt across a large part of Colombia, including Bogotá, where buildings shook, alarms sounded and residents rushed into the streets.

President Abelardo de la Espriella's government declared a national disaster and mobilised soldiers and emergency personnel to assist with rescue and relief operations.

Emergency responders were working through damaged buildings in several cities as authorities assessed the scale of the destruction.

Hospitals and other public buildings were among those affected, adding pressure to medical services already dealing with hundreds of injured people. Reports also indicated damage to hospital facilities, schools and residential buildings, while communications and transport links were disrupted in some areas.

In parts of western Colombia, rescuers faced difficult terrain and damaged roads as they attempted to reach communities affected by the earthquake.

The authorities have warned that the situation remains fluid, with reports of additional casualties and damage continuing to emerge. Aftershocks have also complicated rescue and assessment operations.

The earthquake caused particularly severe damage in parts of the Chocó and Coffee Axis regions. Pereira, Manizales and other cities reported structural damage, while authorities in several municipalities were assessing damaged homes and public infrastructure.

Air travel was also disrupted, with airports in the affected region temporarily affected by the earthquake and subsequent inspections.