At least 111 dead after massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake strikes Colombia

At least 132 people have been killed and hundreds more injured after a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, causing widespread destruction and leaving people trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

The earthquake, which struck on Monday, August 10, 2026, is being described in early reports as one of the strongest earthquakes to hit Colombia in decades and the strongest recorded in the country in the 21st century.

The Colombian government has declared a national disaster, giving authorities special powers to mobilise resources and redirect public funds towards the emergency response.

The earthquake struck at about 7:34 a.m. local time and was centred near San José del Palmar in Chocó Department, in western Colombia.

The tremor was felt across a huge area, including major cities such as Pereira, Cali, Manizales, Quibdó and Armenia, as well as in the capital, Bogotá.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimated that about 1.5 million people experienced shaking close to magnitude seven.

Although the earthquake occurred at considerable depth, its powerful energy caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure across several regions.

The coffee-growing region around Pereira was among the areas severely affected by the earthquake.

Buildings collapsed in parts of the city, while emergency crews searched through rubble for survivors.

Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, also suffered extensive damage. More than 1,600 buildings were reported damaged nationwide, while dozens were completely destroyed.

The destruction disrupted normal life, with authorities imposing restrictions in some areas as rescue and recovery operations continued.

In Manizales, residents described scenes of panic as buildings shook violently, walls cracked and objects fell from shelves.

The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama, although the most serious damage was concentrated in western Colombia.

Emergency responders have been working to locate people believed to be trapped beneath collapsed structures.

The difficult rescue operation has been complicated in some areas by damaged roads, disrupted communications and the remote terrain around the epicentre.

Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant as rescue operations continue and possible aftershocks could pose additional risks.

The situation in parts of Chocó has been particularly difficult to assess because of the region's remote geography and damaged infrastructure.

The earthquake also affected transportation infrastructure, including several regional airports.

Damage was reported at airports serving Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura.

Roads were also damaged in areas close to the epicentre, making it more difficult for emergency teams to reach some affected communities.

In Bogotá, residents reported strong shaking, including movement of trees and traffic lights, while some buildings developed cracks. No major structural damage had been reported in the capital at the time of the initial assessments.

The disaster has presented an immediate and major challenge for President Abelardo de la Espriella, who had only recently assumed office.

The president declared a national disaster situation to enable the government to respond more rapidly to the destruction and provide assistance to affected communities.

The government has pledged to prioritise rescue operations, emergency assistance and the restoration of essential services.

The disaster comes at a particularly difficult time for the country, with thousands of people affected and significant damage reported across several departments.

The earthquake has triggered offers of assistance from several countries and international organisations.

The United States said it was closely monitoring the situation and stood ready to assist Colombia, while the European Union indicated that its Copernicus satellite system was being used to support rescue and assessment efforts.

El Salvador also offered personnel and equipment to assist Colombia's emergency response.

The international response is expected to grow as Colombian authorities provide a clearer assessment of the scale of the destruction and the resources required for recovery.

Seismologists note that deep earthquakes can behave differently from shallower earthquakes.

Although deep earthquakes generally tend to cause less surface damage than earthquakes occurring close to the Earth's surface, they can still transmit significant energy over a wide area.

The Colombian earthquake caused strong shaking across several major population centres, contributing to structural damage hundreds of kilometres from the epicentre.

The disaster has once again highlighted Colombia's vulnerability to seismic activity and the importance of earthquake-resistant construction and emergency preparedness.

With the death toll continuing to rise, authorities are maintaining search-and-rescue operations in areas where people are believed to remain trapped.

Emergency agencies are also assessing damage to homes, public buildings, roads, airports and other critical infrastructure.

As the immediate rescue phase continues, the Colombian government faces the larger challenge of providing shelter, medical care and other assistance to affected communities while beginning the long-term process of rebuilding.

The latest disaster is expected to place significant pressure on Colombia's emergency response systems and public finances as authorities work to restore normal life across the affected regions.