Thousands of people have lost their homes and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance following a deadly earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday, compounding an already severe humanitarian situation.

The Colombian government has declared a state of national disaster following one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the country in the past decade.

The western and central-western departments of Caldas, Chocó, Quindío, Risaralda and Valle del Cauca have been among the hardest hit.

Preliminary assessments indicate that more than 180 people have been killed and about 1,300 injured. More than 1,575 homes have been affected, while 61 buildings have collapsed.

At least 84 health centres and 550 education facilities have also been damaged or affected. Roads have been damaged, while at least seven airports have been closed, further complicating access to affected communities.

“The current figures are preliminary and are expected to increase when we get a better overview of the impact,” said Giovanni Rizzo, country director of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Colombia.

“There is an urgent need for humanitarian assistance, and this will likely include water, food, temporary shelter and health services,” he added.

Rizzo said several NRC staff members had also been affected, with some reporting damage to their homes and waiting to determine whether it was safe to return.

“This is a reality currently shared by thousands of people across the country,” he said.

With damage reported across a wide area, Colombian authorities are prioritising search-and-rescue operations to save people trapped in collapsed structures and locate those reported missing.

Rizzo stressed that close coordination among national and local authorities, communities and humanitarian organisations would be essential to ensure assistance reaches those most in need.

“Coordination will be key for us to respond effectively to the needs identified by national and local authorities and communities. We stand fully ready to help support those most in need,” he said.

The NRC warned that the earthquake has placed additional pressure on communities already facing significant humanitarian needs.

“This earthquake compounds an already severe humanitarian situation, and there is a need for increased support for the humanitarian response,” Rizzo said.