A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck Colombia at 7:34 a.m. on Monday, August 10, leaving 169 people dead according to the latest updates. The seismic event had a depth of 103 kilometers and its epicenter was located in San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó, as reported by the Servicio Geológico Colombiano.
Colombia Hit by 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake
The geological movement is attributed to the natural tectonic dynamics of western Colombia, specifically the subduction of the Nazca plate beneath the South American plate, a process that has historically generated significant earthquakes in the region, such as a 7.2 magnitude event recorded on November 23, 1979. Following the initial tremor, the Servicio Geológico Colombiano documented at least 33 aftershocks.
Casualties and Regional Devastation
The disaster has affected multiple departments across the country, with casualty and injury figures climbing as emergency responders reach damaged areas. Nationally, updated reports indicate 949 people injured, 239 people reported trapped, 86 people rescued, and dozens of structures suffering total or partial collapse alongside hundreds of damaged buildings and homes.
In Pereira, the local administration reported 72 fatalities, alongside 37 missing persons and 15 people trapped. In the department of Valle del Cauca, Governor Dilian Francisca Toro reported 38 deaths by the night of August 10, including four minors at a school. The north and center of Valle del Cauca experienced severe damage, including a collapsed hospital in Argelia that prompted requests for field hospitals. In Buenaventura, authorities registered four deaths, 20 points affected by landslides, 80 partially affected houses, and 40 totally collapsed houses, while flights carrying medicines, tents, and supplies began arriving.
Additional fatalities and impacts were reported in other regions:
- Manizales: 5 deaths reported
- Villamaría, Caldas: 1 death reported
- Tolima: 254 dwellings affected across 25 municipalities
- Antioquia: 697 dwellings affected across 80 municipalities, alongside a red hospital alert
Emergency Response and Security Measures
President Abelardo de la Espriella stated that the state’s action will be fully coordinated to search for missing persons, noting the deployment of 228 rescuers and 105 military engineers to evaluate infrastructure. President de la Espriella also traveled to Chocó, where he announced a rental subsidy for affected residents. Minister of the Interior Rodrigo Lara arrived to coordinate governmental measures, backed by 95 firefighters, 65 specialized rescuers with dogs, two incoming Army platoons specialized in emergencies, and 57 specialized police officers.
In Cali, where the alcalde Alejandro Eder reported 40 collapsed buildings, the city was militarized with a thousand members of the public force following security issues and looting, while 600 police officers patrolled the capital of Valle del Cauca. Emergency operations included successful extractions, such as Bogotá firefighters rescuing a 35-year-old man named Carlos Esteban Rebolledo from a collapsed building in Cali. Shelters for displaced people in Pereira were established at Parque El Vergel, Parque El Oso, Coliseo Mayor, Parque Olaya Plaza de Ferias, and Estadio Mora Mora, with classes suspended across all educational institutions in the city.
International and Institutional Support
International and national organizations mobilized assistance following the disaster. The World Bank made $200,000 available in non-credit donation resources dedicated to damage evaluation, and the United States Department of State announced $15.5 million in aid for Colombia. Meanwhile, Fasecolda reported 442,514 insured real estate properties located within the affected zones.
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