The FCDO said the earthquake, which struck at around 7.30am local time, affected large parts of the country and had its epicentre near San Jose del Palmar in the western department of Choco.

It is advising travellers already in Colombia to follow local authorities, stay away from damaged buildings and plan ahead, while warning of the possibility of aftershocks.

Several airports have now resumed commercial operations following technical inspections, although others remain subject to significant restrictions or temporary closure.

The earthquake has caused widespread destruction across western Colombia claiming more than 250 lives.

Pereira and Cali are among the worst-hit cities, with 101 deaths reported in Pereira and 95 in Cali, according to Reuters, while the Colombian government has registered more than 3,800 missing people.

'Itineraries have been adjusted'

Despite the scale of the disaster, UK tour operators are not experiencing widespread disruption, although some itineraries in affected areas are being reviewed and adjusted.

Latin Routes told TTG it had one family group in Cartagena at the time of the earthquake. The operator said the group felt "no impact", were safe and well, and are continuing their travels as planned.

It also has another group due to arrive in Colombia later this week and said it was in contact with the travellers.

iStock/Chandra Dhas

"They might need to adjust their itinerary once we have a better understanding of the damage to certain areas," a Latin Routes spokesperson said. "We also have other groups scheduled for September, so we'll continue to monitor the situation closely and work with them as needed."

Meanwhile, Intrepid Travel confirmed it had accounted for all of its customers and team members in Colombia and that its groups were safe, including one group who was in the proximity of the earthquake in Salento, Quindio. "Their itinerary has been adjusted slightly, as a precaution and in line with local advice," said UK General Manager Joanna Reeve.

"Safety remains our top priority and we are closely monitoring updates from the Colombian Geological Service, Colombian National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, local authorities, suppliers, and our local team of experts."

Customers urged to choose 'reputable tour op'

The Latin American Travel Association (Lata) is also advising travellers to use reputable tour operators that can monitor the situation and make changes where necessary.

Martin Johnson, Chair of Lata, said: "We are in contact with our members in the region who are monitoring the situation, first and foremost ensuring the safety and wellbeing of those clients and staff in the most affected areas.

"As always, we recommend that travellers book through a reputable tour operator, who will keep a close eye on the situation and be able to make any changes to your itinerary, if necessary."