7.4 magnitude earthquake strikes Chocó, Colombia

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck San José del Palmar in the Chocó department of Colombia on Monday, August 10, 2026. The tremor, which occurred at an intermediate depth of approximately 103 to 107 kilometers, is the strongest earthquake recorded in the country in a decade. The seismic event caused widespread structural damage in cities including Pereira, Manizales, and Cali, and was felt in neighboring Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama.

Geologists attribute the earthquake to the subduction of the Nazca plate beneath the South American plate, involving the interaction of the Nazca, South American, and Caribbean tectonic plates. While the exact fault is unclear, experts suggest the event resulted from stress building up within the Nazca plate.

Seismic activity has continued following the main event. On Tuesday, August 11, the Servicio Geológico Colombiano reported additional tremors in the San José del Palmar area, including a magnitude 3.8 earthquake. As of Monday afternoon, at least 18 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 1.4 to 4.8 had been identified.