Colombia Earthquake: 7.4-Magnitude Quake Kills Dozens

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By TRH World Desk

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing dozens and damaging buildings in Cali, Bogotá, and Chocó. Latest updates here.

New Delhi, August 10, 2026 — A powerful earthquake tore through western Colombia early Monday morning, collapsing buildings, trapping residents under rubble, and killing dozens of people in one of the country’s most significant seismic events in decades.

The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at magnitude 7.4, striking at 7:34 a.m. local time with an epicenter roughly 20 kilometers from San José del Palmar in the Chocó department. The Colombian Geological Survey reported a similar magnitude, though early bulletins put the depth anywhere between 82 and 107 kilometers as agencies refined their readings throughout the morning.

Casualty figures rose sharply as the day went on. Local officials initially confirmed a handful of deaths, but by afternoon authorities said at least 80 people had been killed, with rescue operations still underway and the toll expected to climb further.

Shaking Felt Across the Country — and Beyond

The tremor was felt widely across Colombia, rattling Bogotá, Cali, Popayán, Manizales, Armenia, Pereira, and Medellín. Tremors also reportedly reached neighbouring Ecuador and Panama, according to social media reports cited by regional outlets.

Colombian broadcaster Blu Radio captured the moment on air, with its own studio visibly shaking during a live broadcast — first in Bogotá, then more intensely in Cali. The station’s news director could be heard urging calm as equipment swayed around him.

The USGS estimated more than 2 million people were exposed to very strong shaking, a level the agency says typically brings “considerable damage” to poorly built structures and slight-to-moderate damage even to well-built ones. The hardest-hit areas are believed to include Zarzal, Pereira, and Armenia, along with Chocó and Valle del Cauca.

Damage Reports Mount in Cali and Manizales

In Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, several buildings reportedly collapsed, including a four-story structure, and debris crushed at least one vehicle in the street. Mayor Alejandro Eder told Blu Radio that numerous buildings across the city had visible cracks, though a full damage assessment was still underway.

In Manizales, building facades reportedly sheared off in multiple locations, and one of the towers of the city’s landmark cathedral sustained damage. Reports also emerged of a partial collapse at the Pereira airport, adding to concerns about disrupted emergency access to the Eje Cafetero (Coffee Axis) region.

Chocó’s governor, Nubia Carolina Córdoba, said early verification efforts were underway in the department nearest the epicenter and voiced concern over potential aftershocks, describing the event as a serious seismic emergency for the region.

In the capital, the picture was comparatively less severe. Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán said that as of Monday morning, the city had not recorded major structural damage, though some buildings showed cracking and the district’s emergency institute was continuing inspections.

Government Response

Colombia’s national disaster management unit, the UNGRD, activated its monitoring and verification protocols within minutes of the quake and began coordinating with regional authorities in the affected zones.

President Abelardo De La Espriella said he was heading to Bogotá to personally lead the emergency response from a unified command post, directing efforts toward Chocó, the Eje Cafetero, and other impacted areas.

The United States also weighed in. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was closely monitoring the situation and stood ready to support Colombia’s government and its people, and urged American citizens in the country to register with the State Department for updates.

Fragile Zone Risks

Colombia sits at the junction of the Nazca, Caribbean, and South American tectonic plates, making it one of the most seismically active countries in the region — Monday’s quake is already among the largest to hit the country since the devastating 1999 Armenia earthquake, which killed more than 1,000 people.

Authorities cautioned that seismic bulletins remain subject to revision as data processing continues, and search-and-rescue operations were ongoing in the hardest-hit departments as of Monday afternoon.

(This is a developing story and figures on deaths, injuries, and damage are expected to change.)

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