GEOFF BENNETT: Welcome to the "News Hour."

We begin tonight with a powerful and deadly earthquake that hit Colombia today, killing at least 111 people, toppling buildings, and leaving a trail of destruction.

In Colombia today, homes and buildings crumbled as a deadly 7.4-magnitude earthquake rocked the country.

In Manizales, about 160 miles outside the country's capital of Bogota, smoke filled the air as pieces of this building came crashing down.

A woman stumbled as she ran for safety, strangers quickly rushing in to help her.

Outside the city's famed Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, strangers clung to one another as the ground beneath them shook.

When it was over, they were among the first to see the damage to Colombia's beloved nearly century-old church.

In the city of Pereira, rescue workers searched the rubble for survivors.

Street vendors and delivery drivers scrambled to safety as this four-story building buckled in a matter of minutes.

And outside this apartment building, a woman prayed for the shaking to stop as people watched helplessly while the structure swayed.

The quake was centered near San Jose del Palmar, south of Medellin, but stretched across Western Colombia, including the country's famed coffee-growing region.

In Santiago de Cali, where Colombia's new president was inaugurated just days ago, a celebratory atmosphere quickly gave to crisis.

ALEJANDRO EDER, Mayor of Cali, Colombia (through translator): At the moment, we have at least 20 collapsed structures in Cali with people trapped.

I have requested support from the mayor of Bogota and the mayor of Medellin with rescue workers.

Check if your buildings have apparent structural damage.

If you don't feel safe, if you see very large cracks, please exit the building.

GEOFF BENNETT: Even the city's emergency services were hit, chunks of this building crashing down on ambulances parked below.

ABELARDO GABRIEL DE LA ESPRIELLA, Colombian President (through translator): You are not alone.

Colombia has a president who cares about the people and who will do everything in his power to help them in the most difficult moment, strong for the homeland.

GEOFF BENNETT: And, tonight, Colombia's president, just three days into the job, said he would lead the emergency response efforts and travel to the hardest-hit areas.