Colombia estimates $9.6 billion in losses from magnitude 7.4 earthquake that killed 294

Aug 14, 2026

A devastating magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026, killing at least 294 people and leaving hundreds missing. President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office just three days prior, estimated preliminary economic losses at $9.58 billion. While international rescue teams deployed to assist, the administration faced diplomatic friction over restricted aid and severe domestic backlash after Housing Minister Jaime Andres Beltran was photographed vacationing at a beach during the emergency.

Colombia magnitude 7.4 earthquake

▪A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026, with its epicenter located near San Jose del Palmar in the Choco department.
▪The August 10, 2026 earthquake struck at an intermediate depth of 96 to 107 kilometers, spreading seismic energy across a wide area felt by 34 million people across four countries.

Death toll reaches 294

▪The confirmed death toll from the August 10, 2026 Colombia earthquake reached 294, making it the country's deadliest seismic disaster since 1999.
▪The Colombian government reported that at least 4,147 people were injured and between 143 and 320 people remained missing following the August 10, 2026 earthquake.

Infrastructure destruction assessment

▪The earthquake damaged critical infrastructure across Colombia, affecting 407 roads, 285 health centers, 2,838 educational facilities, 92 water supply systems, and five airports.
▪The August 10, 2026 earthquake damaged 127,557 homes and destroyed 26,945 others across Colombia, leaving tens of thousands of residents displaced.

Economic losses total $9.6 billion

▪Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella estimated the preliminary economic losses from the August 10, 2026 earthquake at 30 trillion pesos, equivalent to approximately $9.58 billion.
▪President Abelardo de la Espriella requested U.S. President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian imports to provide relief to businesses recovering from the earthquake.
▪The $9.58 billion in estimated earthquake losses includes approximately 24.5 trillion pesos in building damage and 5.5 trillion pesos in infrastructure damage.

International rescue operations

▪The Colombian government faced public backlash and diplomatic friction after initially restricting external rescue assistance to certified teams from El Salvador, Ecuador, Israel, and the United States.
▪International search and rescue teams from Venezuela, Argentina, Israel, Spain, Mexico, and the United States deployed to Colombia to assist in locating survivors under collapsed buildings.

Housing minister beach controversy

▪Housing Minister Jaime Andres Beltran defended his actions on social media, stating he was not on vacation but spending necessary hours with his family before returning to work.
▪Colombian Housing Minister Jaime Andres Beltran faced widespread public outrage and a congressional motion of censure after photos emerged of him vacationing at a beach in Santa Marta during the disaster.