New disaster in Colombia: Death toll rises; Search for survivors underway PHOTO/VIDEO

At least 132 people have been killed, while more than 570 have been injured in Colombia in a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the country on Monday, according to a preliminary report by the Association of Capital Cities of Colombia (Asocapitales), published today by the country's president, Abelardo de la Espriella.

Pereira, the capital of Risaralda Department, which borders San José del Palmar in Chocó Department, where the earthquake's epicenter was located, has the highest number of fatalities, at 60, according to the report cited by CNN.

The Joint Command Center in Cali said that 188 people are reported missing in the capital of Valle del Cauca Department, while search and rescue operations are underway.

Five major cities across the country are under a red alert, 86 buildings have collapsed, and seven airports have suspended operations, according to data from the Association of Capital Cities of Colombia.

Sixteen people were evacuated from a cable car in Pereira after being trapped for six hours, the city's mayor's office said.

The earthquake struck Colombia's so-called “Coffee Axis,” a mountainous, lush and culturally significant region that plays an important role in the country's economy. The area was also hit by another earthquake in 1999, in which nearly 1,200 people were killed.

De la Espriela also confirmed that 35 people were killed in Cali, that 39 schools were affected and more than 5,000 homes were damaged, while three hospitals in the city were completely overwhelmed. He also addressed law-and-order problems in the city, where looting of businesses has been reported, and announced that security would be strengthened by deploying an additional 1,000 police officers, Pais reported.

Colombian Vice President José Manuel Restrepo announced from Manizales that the government would appoint a new director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) today, one of the key bodies responsible for managing the crisis caused by the earthquake. The agency coordinates the work of mayors' and governors' offices with relief agencies to provide assistance to areas affected by natural disasters.

Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder announced new security measures, including a curfew. The city also announced the militarization of several areas, particularly those worst affected by the earthquake, where rescue and relief operations are still underway.

The municipal administration declared a state of public disaster, allowing the mayor's office to manage resources needed to address the emergency. De la Espriella had previously issued the same declaration at the national level.

The city also reiterated a red alert for hospitals, aimed at prioritizing emergency care in medical facilities.