A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, 2026, causing widespread building collapses, infrastructure damage, and at least 77 fatalities. The tremor, originating near San José del Palmar in Chocó province, triggered evacuations across the nation and delivered an immediate crisis for newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella.
Casualties and Structural Collapse Across Western Departments
The devastating earthquake struck early Monday morning at a depth of approximately 66 miles, according to the FOX Weather and its Colombian counterpart. The tremor registered as the highest-magnitude earthquake recorded in Colombia over the last decade, sending violent shaking through major cities and rural communities alike.
The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management confirmed that tremors were felt across all 32 departmental capitals, prompting widespread emergency evacuations. The highest fatalities were concentrated in the coffee-growing province of Risaralda, where Governor Juan Diego Patiño reported 42 deaths. In the provincial capital of Pereira, 18 people died amid a massive quantity of collapsed buildings
as pieces of infrastructure gave way.
Additional casualties mounted across the region. In Valle del Cauca, local officials registered 27 fatalities, while Mayor Alejandro Eder reported that at least 25 structures had collapsed in Cali. Emergency responders targeted 12 critical points across the city.
“At this point, two people have already been rescued alive, one elderly woman and one young girl. There are more people trapped.”
Mayor Alejandro Eder, Cali, via Blu Radio
Further north in Manizales, two people died after one of the cathedral’s towers collapsed, according to Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas. In the Pacific port of Buenaventura, Mayor Ligia del Carmen Córdoba confirmed one fatality following a structural cave-in.
Emergency Response and Regional Repercussions
President Abelardo de la Espriella stepped directly into his administration’s first major disaster, announcing via social media that he had assumed personal control of the emergency response in José del Palma. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar offered official assistance from Israel during discussions with Colombian counterpart Omar Bula Escobar.
Transportation infrastructure sustained severe blows. At least six Colombian airports suspended operations, including facilities in Manizales, Quibdó, and Armenia, as security teams evaluated structural integrity. Meanwhile, it was confirmed that no tsunami warnings had been issued for the Pacific coastline.
The disaster left the Andean nation on edge, arriving mere weeks after a pair of powerful earthquakes struck neighboring Venezuela in late June. Seismologists and local residents drew immediate parallels to historical disasters, most notably the 1999 earthquake that devastated Colombia’s coffee region and killed more than 1,200 people.
Ongoing Aftershocks and Search Operations
Search and rescue teams continue combing through debris across more than 20 affected municipalities. The Colombian Geological Service documented multiple aftershocks following the initial tremor, including a 4.8-magnitude event that reverberated widely across the Andean region.
For residents like 64-year-old Cali taxi driver Jorge Moncayo, the immediate aftermath brought profound shock. “My entire house shook,” Moncayo remarked as he watched dust clouds rise over the city hills. I’ve never lived through such a powerful earthquake.
With aftershocks remaining a constant threat in Chocó and surrounding provinces, disaster management personnel warn that damage assessments remain incomplete.
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