Salento suffers structural damage after 7.4 magnitude earthquake

The municipality of Salento, Quindío, has sustained significant structural damage following a 7.4 magnitude earthquake on Monday, August 10, 2026. While no fatalities were reported within the municipality, approximately 130 people were injured throughout the Quindío department.

Local authorities confirmed that the town's historic center and traditional housing suffered severe impacts. The iconic Calle Real and the main plaza area experienced deep cracks and collapses, particularly in buildings constructed with traditional bahareque and tapia pisada materials. Public spaces are currently littered with debris, broken tiles, and destroyed commercial structures.

The Quindío government has deployed teams of architects and engineers to inspect hospitals, schools, residential homes, and public streets to assess the extent of the damage.