Shortly after 7:30 Monday morning, the most powerful earthquake to hit Colombia in a decade sent people fleeing for safety as buildings teetered, and then fell.

The epicenter was in a less populous rural area off the Pacific Coast, potentially blunting its impact, but by Tuesday morning at least 181 people had been confirmed dead, according to Asocapitales, an association of Colombian cities.

More than 1,500 residential buildings were damaged, officials said, some of them irreparably. At least 20 buildings collapsed in the city of Cali, trapping people inside, according to its mayor.

Eighteen health centers and dozens of schools were also damaged, and air service to more than half a dozen cities was suspended.

Here is a look at images coming out of Colombia, where a vigorous search was underway.

Tuesday