Summary:
- A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026.
- The earthquake was centered near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department.
- At least 164 people have been confirmed dead, with authorities warning the toll could rise.
- Cali, Pereira and communities in Chocó are among the hardest-hit areas.
- More than 1,600 buildings have reportedly been damaged or collapsed.
- The town of El Cairo suffered extensive destruction, with about 80% of its buildings reported damaged.
- Search-and-rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate people trapped beneath collapsed structures.
- Colombia has declared a national emergency as humanitarian and recovery operations intensify.
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 164 people and causing widespread destruction across several cities as emergency crews continued searching through collapsed buildings for survivors.
The earthquake struck near San José del Palmar in Colombia’s Chocó department on August 10. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the quake at a depth of about 107 kilometers, with strong shaking reported across a large part of western Colombia.
Death Toll Rises as Rescue Operations Continue
At least 164 people have been confirmed dead, and authorities have warned that the toll could rise as rescue teams reach damaged buildings and communities that have been difficult to access.
Cali, Pereira and Manizales are among the hardest-hit cities. Reuters reported 85 deaths in Cali and 66 in Pereira, while another 13 deaths were reported in Chocó, the region closest to the earthquake’s epicenter.
Police officers, soldiers, firefighters, volunteers and emergency workers have been searching through rubble for people who may still be trapped.
Buildings Collapse Across Western Colombia
The earthquake damaged homes, hospitals and other infrastructure across the region.
More than 1,600 buildings were reported damaged or collapsed in the aftermath of the quake, according to reports from the affected areas. Cali, Pereira, Quibdó and other cities experienced significant structural damage.
The town of El Cairo was particularly badly affected, with local officials estimating that roughly 80% of its buildings suffered damage.
In Cali, part of a hospital was damaged, forcing hundreds of patients to receive treatment outside while emergency teams assessed the safety of the building.
Search for Missing Residents Intensifies
Thousands of people were initially reported missing as families struggled to contact relatives in areas affected by damaged communications and infrastructure.
Rescue teams have been using search dogs and heavy equipment to locate survivors beneath collapsed structures. Access to some communities in Chocó has been particularly difficult because of the region’s mountainous and heavily forested terrain.
Aftershocks have added to concerns about further damage and have complicated rescue efforts in already unstable buildings.
Government Declares Emergency
Colombia’s government declared a national emergency following the disaster, allowing additional resources and security personnel to be deployed to affected regions.
Authorities have focused on search-and-rescue operations, medical assistance, temporary housing and restoring essential services.
Security forces were also deployed to some of the hardest-hit areas following reports of looting, while curfews were introduced in Cali and Pereira.
International assistance has also begun arriving, with foreign governments offering financial and humanitarian support as Colombia assesses the full scale of the disaster.
One of Colombia’s Strongest Earthquakes in Decades
The 7.4-magnitude earthquake is among the most powerful to strike Colombia in decades and the strongest recorded in the country this century.
The USGS measured the earthquake at magnitude 7.4, with its epicenter about five kilometers east of San José del Palmar.
As rescue teams continue working across western Colombia, officials say the immediate priority remains finding survivors, treating the injured and providing shelter to thousands of people affected by the disaster.
The full scale of the destruction is still being assessed, and authorities have warned that casualty figures could change as emergency crews reach more remote communities.