Bogota, Aug 2026 : A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 111 people, injuring 87 and causing extensive damage across several cities and municipalities. Rescue teams and residents continued searching through collapsed buildings for survivors as authorities warned that the death toll could rise.
Newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella declared an emergency to accelerate the release of funds for relief and reconstruction and said he would personally visit the affected areas. Taking charge of the government’s response, the President assured victims that the state would stand by them during the crisis.
“We aren't going to leave people alone. They are in our hearts, and we are going to tend to people with our full determination,” de la Espriella said.
The United States Geological Survey said the epicentre was located near San Jose del Palmar, a community of around 4,800 people in the Choco region, approximately 400 kilometres west of the capital Bogota. The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring Ecuador and Panama, although reports from those countries indicated limited damage.
The tremor caused widespread destruction in western Colombia, affecting cities including Pereira, Quibdo, Cali and Manizales. More than 20 municipalities across the country were reportedly impacted, according to Colombia’s Interior Minister.
Rescue Operations Underway
In several affected areas, residents and emergency workers sifted through rubble in search of people trapped beneath collapsed structures. Authorities remained concerned about possible aftershocks that could destabilise already damaged buildings and complicate rescue efforts.
The Pacific region surrounding the epicentre lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a vast zone of seismic activity encircling the Pacific Ocean where many of the world’s earthquakes occur. The Choco region is also among Colombia’s poorest and most geographically challenging areas. Much of the territory is covered by dense jungle, while many rural communities can be reached only by boat or aircraft, potentially complicating rescue operations and efforts to assess the full extent of the disaster.
Jorge Moncayo, a 64-year-old taxi driver in Cali, described the intensity of the earthquake and said residents witnessed clouds of dust rising as buildings were damaged or collapsed.
“My entire house shook. I've never lived through such a powerful earthquake,” he said. “We're thanking God we're alive.”
Heavy Losses Across Several Regions
Before the President announced the latest nationwide death toll, regional authorities had already reported significant casualties. At least 40 people were confirmed dead in Risaralda, where Pereira is located, while 27 fatalities were reported in Valle del Cauca, home to Colombia’s third-largest city, Cali. The governor of Valle del Cauca said at least three of those killed were children.
Authorities also reported nine deaths in Choco, two in Caldas and one involving a 73-year-old person in Antioquia.
Pereira was among the worst-hit urban areas. Mayor Mauricio Salazar earlier reported at least 18 deaths in the city and said many more people could be trapped beneath a large amount of collapsed debris.
Images and videos from Pereira showed sections of the airport ceiling falling while travellers sought shelter amid panic. People were seen running through debris as emergency personnel moved in to assist those affected.
In neighbouring Manizales, a city located in Colombia’s coffee-growing mountain region, one of the towers of its historic neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed onto the nave. Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas urged residents to remain outside because of concerns over further tremors.
In Choco, authorities reported injuries and damage to buildings in the regional capital, although information from some remote areas remained limited. In Cali, a city of around two million people, Mayor Alejandro Eder said residents were trapped inside at least 19 collapsed buildings.
Colombia Records Strongest Quake in a Decade
Colombia’s Geological Service described Monday’s earthquake as the highest-magnitude earthquake recorded in the country in the past decade. Two aftershocks measuring 2.8 and 4.8 magnitude were subsequently recorded, increasing concerns among residents and emergency authorities.
The earthquake also disrupted air connectivity across the region. Flights were suspended at airports in Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura and Pereira as authorities assessed damage and carried out safety inspections.
Powerful earthquakes are relatively uncommon in Colombia, although smaller tremors occur frequently, particularly in the central and western parts of the country. The last major earthquake to cause comparable devastation occurred in 1999, when a 6.2-magnitude quake near Armenia killed more than 1,100 people.
The disaster has also unsettled Colombians following devastating earthquakes in neighbouring Venezuela in late June, which reportedly destroyed hundreds of buildings and killed more than 5,000 people.
First Major Test for New President
The earthquake represents the first major emergency facing de la Espriella, who was sworn in as Colombia’s President only over the weekend. He said he had personally taken charge of the government’s response and ordered emergency authorities to coordinate rescue, relief and recovery operations.
“You are not alone. The state is present and taking action,” he said.
The President’s administration is now facing the immediate challenge of reaching affected communities, rescuing people trapped under debris, providing medical assistance and assessing damage to homes, public infrastructure, transport networks and other essential facilities.
Messages of solidarity and offers of assistance began arriving from governments across the Americas, including Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, El Salvador and the United States.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration was closely monitoring the situation and was prepared to support Colombia.
“The Trump administration is closely monitoring the large earthquake that struck Colombia and stands ready to support the people of Colombia,” Rubio wrote on X.
Several countries also offered assistance, while UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said the United Nations was prepared to provide help if required.
As rescue teams continued operations into the night, authorities faced the difficult task of reaching remote communities and determining the full scale of the destruction. With aftershocks possible and hundreds of buildings damaged, emergency agencies were expected to maintain search-and-rescue operations while beginning the longer process of relief and reconstruction.
