7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Colombia: 111 Killed, Hundreds Injured

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake rocked western Colombia on the morning of Monday, August 10, 2026, killing at least 111 people, injuring hundreds, and collapsing dozens of buildings across multiple cities. The disaster, centered in the remote Chocó department, ranks as the strongest earthquake recorded in Colombia this century and triggered a nationwide emergency response.

Earthquake Details and Where It Was Felt

The earthquake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time with its epicenter located near San José del Palmar, a small municipality in the Chocó department approximately 250 kilometers (150 miles) west of Bogotá. Seismologists recorded the quake at a depth between 96 and 110 kilometers (roughly 60 to 68 miles), which contributed to the unusually wide area where shaking was felt.

Despite its intermediate depth, the earthquake produced violent shaking across western and central Colombia. Residents in major cities including Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Medellín, Armenia, and Bogotá reported strong tremors that sent people fleeing into the streets and prompted evacuations of hospitals, schools, and office buildings. The shaking extended beyond Colombia’s borders, reaching parts of Ecuador, Panama, and western Venezuela, where authorities reported minor damage and building evacuations but no significant casualties.

Colombia’s Geological Service confirmed this was the strongest earthquake to hit the country in the 21st century, with a rupture duration of approximately 12.5 seconds and a maximum intensity of VII (Very Strong) on the Modified Mercalli scale in the hardest-hit areas. At least 21 aftershocks followed within hours, including a magnitude 4.8 tremor that was widely felt across the region.

Image credit: CNN

Devastation in Western Colombia

The most severe damage occurred in western Colombia’s densely populated urban centers and the coffee-growing region known as the Eje Cafetero. Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city with 2.2 million residents, suffered extensive destruction. Mayor Alejandro Eder reported that at least 20 buildings collapsed in the city, trapping people inside, while dozens more sustained structural damage. Initial casualty figures indicated at least 27 to 35 deaths in the Valle del Cauca department, where Cali is located, though local media later suggested the toll in Cali alone could reach 85.

Pereira, the capital of Risaralda department, experienced some of the most visible destruction. Entire residential blocks were reduced to piles of concrete and twisted steel, with authorities reporting 65 to 66 deaths and 65 collapsed buildings. Mayor Mauricio Salazar stated that victims were believed to be trapped in at least 15 of the collapsed structures, while five hospitals were inundated with injured survivors.

In Manizales, capital of Caldas department, officials confirmed at least two deaths and reported that 12 buildings and 20 homes were partially or completely destroyed. The city’s historic cathedral sustained significant damage, with one of its towers cracking during the quake. The municipality of Manizales also confirmed more than 1,500 damaged housing units across the affected region.

Quibdó, the capital of Chocó department and the province closest to the epicenter, reported injuries and severe damage to buildings and its airport despite its smaller population. At least 13 deaths were confirmed in the rural Chocó province.

Infrastructure and Building Damage

President Abelardo De La Espriella, who had assumed office just days before the disaster, declared a national state of emergency and provided initial damage assessments during a national address. According to official reports, at least 61 buildings collapsed completely across the affected region, while more than 1,500 to 1,600 homes sustained damage, with some completely destroyed.

The earthquake also damaged critical infrastructure throughout western Colombia. Authorities reported 18 affected healthcare facilities, 52 affected educational institutions, 18 damaged roads, and six affected airports in cities including Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Cartago, Armenia, and Buenaventura. Aviation authorities confirmed that several airports sustained damage and required structural inspections before resuming normal operations.

Ready to donate?

In the face of such widespread destruction, Colombians and international readers alike can support the relief effort in several concrete ways. Financial contributions made through the official donation platform of the Cruz Roja Colombiana help fund emergency response teams, medical care, shelter, food, and psychological support for families in the hardest-hit areas.

At the same time, the National Blood Bank and regional blood banks across the country are calling for donors to step forward: people can donate blood at the Banco Nacional de Sangre in Bogotá, Cundinamarca (Av. Cra. 68 #68B–31), at the Banco Regional Medellín in Antioquia (Cra. 52 #25–310), at the Banco Regional Cartagena in Bolívar (Calle 30 #44D–71, Barrio España), and at the Punto de Captación in Villavicencio (Cra. 30 #39–30). Additional blood donation points are open in Manizales (Cancha Auxiliar – Palogrande), at the Banco Regional Armenia in Quindío (Av. Bolívar #23 Norte–60), and at the Banco Regional Cali in Valle del Cauca (Cra. 38 Bis #5–91, San Fernando).

Meanwhile, on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, the Alcaldia de Barranquilla has established a 24-hour collection center at Cra. 43 #6–120, where residents can donate nonperishable food, new or gently used clothing, personal hygiene items, pet food, baby supplies, and medical supplies, reaffirming that Barranquilla is standing in solidarity with Colombia in this moment of national grief and recovery.

Credit: UN News / © Valentina Escobar Salazar (Cali, Colombia)

Caribbean Coast Reports No Damage

While western and central Colombia bore the brunt of the earthquake, the Caribbean coast experienced minimal effects. The tremor was felt lightly in some coastal areas, but no structural damage, injuries, or casualties were reported along the Caribbean coastline, including in Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Santa Marta. Authorities confirmed that buildings, airports, and infrastructure along the Caribbean coast remained intact, and no tsunami warning was issued since the earthquake occurred inland rather than offshore.

Ongoing Rescue Efforts

As of Monday evening, rescue crews continued searching through rubble for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings in Cali, Pereira, and other affected cities. President De La Espriella stated that the national government had deployed all available resources to protect lives, assist affected communities, and deliver aid wherever needed. Church communities and local organizations mobilized quickly to provide shelter and assistance to displaced residents, particularly in the Chocó region where many families live in poverty.

Officials warned that the death toll could rise significantly as search and rescue operations continued and more complete assessments became available in the coming days. The disaster represents Colombia’s deadliest earthquake in decades and has prompted an unprecedented emergency response across multiple departments.