STRONG EARTHQUAKE HITS COLOMBIA

A powerful earthquake toppled buildings, killing at least 23 people and injuring hundreds more in Colombia. Preliminary estimates place the magnitude of the quake, which was centered about 175 miles west of Bogota, as between 6.2 and 6.5 on the Richter scale. The city of Pereira (population 700,000) was hardest hit. Officials cut electricity there to avoid fires from possible gas leaks or downed power lines.