A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026, causing widespread destruction across several cities and leaving more than 100 people dead. The earthquake has been described by authorities as Colombia’s strongest earthquake of the century.
Death Toll Crosses 100
At least 111 people have been confirmed dead, while dozens of others were injured. Some reports have put the toll higher as authorities continue assessing the damage and searching affected areas.
Rescue teams remain engaged in operations to locate people who may still be trapped beneath collapsed structures.
Epicentre in Chocó
The earthquake’s epicentre was near San José del Palmar in Colombia’s Chocó region, roughly 400 kilometres west of Bogotá.
The powerful tremors were felt across a wide area, including cities such as Cali, Pereira, Quibdó, Armenia and Manizales. Shaking was also reported in neighbouring countries.
Buildings and Hospitals Damaged
The earthquake caused extensive structural damage, with around 1,600 buildings reported damaged and dozens collapsing completely.
Hospitals and other critical infrastructure were also affected, creating additional challenges for emergency responders and medical teams.
In several locations, people were trapped inside damaged buildings as rescue workers searched through rubble.
Thousands Reported Missing
The disaster has created a major search-and-rescue operation, with more than 2,000 people reported missing in some official and media updates.
Authorities are working to identify missing residents while families continue searching for relatives in affected communities.
National Emergency Declared
Colombian authorities have declared a national emergency and placed rescue and relief operations at the top of the government’s priorities.
President Abelardo de la Espriella, who had taken office only days before the earthquake, ordered government agencies, military personnel and police forces to support rescue and relief operations.
Aftershocks Add to Concerns
Emergency workers have also been dealing with continuing aftershocks, raising concerns about additional structural collapses and making rescue operations more difficult.
Reports indicated that more than 20 aftershocks had followed the main earthquake by Monday night.
International Assistance Offered
The scale of the disaster has prompted offers of international assistance.
The United States has pledged $15.5 million in aid, while other countries and organisations have also expressed their willingness to support Colombia’s emergency response and recovery efforts.
Rescue Operations Continue
Military personnel, emergency workers, volunteers and search teams are continuing operations in the worst-hit areas.
Rescuers have already managed to pull survivors from collapsed structures, giving emergency teams hope that more people can still be found alive.
The full extent of the destruction is still being assessed, and authorities have warned that casualty figures could change as rescue teams reach more remote areas.
Colombia Faces Major Recovery Challenge
The earthquake has left communities across western Colombia facing a major humanitarian and reconstruction challenge.
With homes, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure damaged, authorities now face the difficult task of rescuing survivors while providing shelter, medical assistance and essential supplies to displaced residents.
The focus remains on saving lives, locating missing people and preventing further casualties as rescue and relief operations continue.
Source: Reuters, AP and latest reports published August 10–11, 2026.
Original Report: A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 111 people and causing widespread damage across several cities.
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