At least 111 people died and thousands are missing after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026. President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of emergency as rescue teams rushed to search collapsed buildings in severely impacted cities like Cali and Pereira.
What began as a terrifying Monday morning tremor quickly escalated into a national humanitarian crisis. The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck at 7.34 a.m. local time on August 10, 2026, originating near San Jose del Palmar in the Choco region at a depth of approximately 103 kilometers. It stands as the strongest earthquake recorded in Colombia in the last decade.
While initial reports suggested limited disruption, the true devastation emerged as communication lines slowly reopened. More than 1,500 residential homes suffered heavy structural damage, while dozens of commercial buildings, schools, and health centers completely collapsed. President Abelardo de la Espriella, who assumed office just days before the disaster, stepped in to coordinate the national response.
That translates to an urgent national priority: rescuing those trapped beneath the rubble. To accelerate recovery funding and military deployment, the newly sworn-in leader declared a state of emergency across the country.
Cali and Pereira Bear the Heaviest Toll
The human and structural toll varies sharply across the affected departments, with urban centers suffering catastrophic losses. In the major southwestern hub of Cali, at least 35 people died and roughly 700 were injured, while three hospitals and about 40 buildings collapsed entirely. A digital database tracking the disaster registered more than 2,000 individuals as missing, concentrated heavily in Cali and Pereira.
In Pereira, the devastation was similarly severe. City officials reported that death tolls reached 60 victims alongside 58 completely flattened buildings. Meanwhile, in the Choco region, Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi confirmed 12 deaths and 84 injuries in the provincial capital of Quibdo alone, where the tremors triggered widespread panic.
Infrastructure damage further crippled rescue operations. Colombia’s Civil Aviation Authority suspended operations at six airports, including facilities in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura, after they sustained structural damage.
Geological Context and Regional Tremors
The sheer reach of the disaster rattled neighboring nations. Residents felt strong tremors hundreds of kilometers away from the epicenter, including in the capital of Bogotá, where buildings were evacuated as a precaution. Mayor Carlos Galan confirmed via social media that inspections revealed only building cracks and no immediate injuries within the capital.
However, the Colombian Geological Service (SGC) quickly dismissed any connection between the events.
International Aid Mobilization and Immediate Next Steps
As search and rescue teams push through ongoing aftershocks, international allies have stepped forward with pledges of financial and operational assistance.
Governments across Latin America also offered immediate support.
President de la Espriella ordered the establishment of a joint crisis committee stationed directly in San Jose del Palmar to coordinate incoming aid. With hundreds of people still missing and dozens of aftershocks continuing to rattle the region, government officials have committed to providing continuous public updates as rescue efforts press forward.
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