Powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake kills over 250 in western Colombia

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake strikes western Colombia on August 10, 2026, killing over 250 people and injuring more than 1,300. The disaster causes widespread destruction in cities like Cali and Pereira, collapsing buildings, hospitals, and infrastructure. Newly inaugurated President Abelardo De La Espriella declares a national disaster and deploys rescue teams, while international aid, including $15.5 million from the United States, is mobilized to support recovery efforts.

Western Colombia earthquake

• ▪Colombia's Geological Service reported that the August 10, 2026 earthquake was the strongest recorded in the country during the 21st century.
• ▪A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, 2026, with its epicenter located near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department.
• ▪The August 10, 2026 earthquake in Colombia occurred at 7:34 a.m. local time at a depth of approximately 103 to 107 kilometers.

Death toll rises

• ▪Local authorities estimated that the death toll from the August 10, 2026 earthquake in Colombia had risen to more than 250 people by Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
• ▪By Tuesday morning, August 11, 2026, specific casualty reports from the earthquake included 101 deaths in Pereira and 95 deaths in Cali.
• ▪Colombia's Association of Capital Cities reported on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, that at least 1,310 people were injured across the country due to the earthquake.

Building collapses

• ▪In Manizales, one of the towers of the neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed and fell onto the nave during the August 10, 2026 earthquake.
• ▪The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that approximately 5,000 homes were damaged or destroyed by the August 10, 2026 earthquake.
• ▪In Cali, several top floors of a hospital collapsed during the August 10, 2026 earthquake, trapping patients and forcing medical staff to treat 600 patients on the street.

Rescue operations

• ▪Rescue crews and volunteers in Cali and Pereira worked through the night of August 10, 2026, using heavy machinery and bare hands to search for survivors trapped under rubble.
• ▪The United States government allocated $15.5 million in emergency aid to Colombia for shelter, food, protection, and damage assessments following the August 10, 2026 earthquake.
• ▪The Inter-American Development Bank made $50 million immediately available for reconstruction support in Colombia following the August 10, 2026 earthquake.

Presidential emergency declaration

• ▪President Abelardo De La Espriella decreed a three-month economic relief measure for residents in the coffee-growing region of Risaralda on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
• ▪Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella declared a national disaster and state of emergency on Monday, August 10, 2026, to mobilize emergency efforts and expedite recovery funding.

Infrastructure damage

• ▪The August 10, 2026 earthquake caused widespread disruptions to electricity, water, healthcare, and telecommunications services, particularly in the Chocó department.
• ▪Civil aviation authorities in Colombia suspended flight operations at six regional airports, including Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura, due to earthquake damage.