Colombia earthquake: 224 dead after 7.4 magnitude tremor FAST-MOVING
A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 07:34 local time. The epicenter was located near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department at a depth of approximately 103 kilometers. The Colombian Geological Service described it as the strongest earthquake recorded in the country in the 21st century.
President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared a national disaster and mobilized military and police forces to assist in rescue operations. The tremor was felt across much of Colombia, including Bogotá, Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Armenia, and was also detected in neighboring Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela.
Casualty reports are evolving, with recent updates indicating at least 224 deaths and over 1,300 injuries. The cities of Cali and Pereira have been among the hardest hit. In Cali, hospital infrastructure was damaged, and authorities have implemented curfews to prevent looting. In Pereira, significant structural damage was reported, including at the Matecaña International Airport. Approximately 1,600 buildings have been reported damaged or collapsed across the affected regions. Rescue teams, including specialized units from Bogotá and Medellín, are working through debris to locate thousands of people reported missing.
Entities
Abelardo De La Espriella · Asocapitales · Cali · Chocó · Colombia · National Unit for Disaster Risk Management · Pereira · San José del Palmar · United Nations · United States · United States · United States Geological Survey
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Con Cora Foundation will work to provide assistance to families affected by the earthquake. tvolima.pe · deultimominuto.net
- [● 5 SOURCES] Shakira expressed solidarity with those affected by the earthquake via social media. tvolima.pe · notiziedi.it
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Fonseca called for unity to help those impacted by the natural disaster.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The digital wallet dale! enabled a feature for immediate donations to the Bogotá Red Cross. portalgeek.co
- [● 5 SOURCES] A 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurred with its epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó, Colombia. portalgeek.co · tvolima.pe · radiolakalle.pe
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Camilo shared a message of support and concern for the country following the earthquake.
- [● 10 SOURCES] The earthquake occurred at 7:34 a.m. with a depth of 103 km. www.aztecajalisco.com · actualidadvalencia.com · fmmundo.com · thetaiwantimes.com · elpinguino.com
- [● 12 SOURCES] The earthquake epicenter was located in San José del Palmar, Chocó. actualidadvalencia.com · thetaiwantimes.com · www.aztecajalisco.com · fmmundo.com · elpinguino.com · +2 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] A magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurred on Monday, August 10, 2026. www.aztecajalisco.com · actualidadvalencia.com · fmmundo.com · thetaiwantimes.com · elpinguino.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The duration of an earthquake can be measured by how long it is felt, how long instruments record it, or how long the fault movement lasts.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A mother and her six-month-old baby were rescued alive from rubble in Cali.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] More than 700 people have been injured.