Major earthquake rocks western Colombia, collapsing dozens of buildings in Cali and trapping residents as rescue teams deploy.
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A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Sunday, killing at least 111 people and injuring dozens more, according to local officials. The temblor caused widespread destruction, with more than two dozen structures collapsing in Cali, one of Colombia's largest cities. Mayor Alejandro Eder confirmed that people remain trapped in the rubble and called for disaster teams from Bogotá and Medellín to assist with rescue efforts.
The earthquake is the latest natural disaster to hit Colombia this year. Local authorities are coordinating emergency response efforts while the death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue. The western region experienced significant shaking that toppled buildings and triggered evacuations across populated areas.
In a separate development, DARPA is developing a hypersonic scramjet cruise missile capable of evading enemy air defenses, according to Military Times and Defense News. The Pentagon's interest in the new missile system comes as U.S. air defenses successfully intercept Iranian missiles, but officials are concerned about the vulnerability of American missiles to advanced enemy air defense systems. The agency cited the rapid proliferation of sophisticated integrated air defense systems as a key driver for the new weapon program.
Meanwhile, employees of healthcare company Centene have posted about a new wave of layoffs, though details remain scarce.