Western region of Columbia hit my massive earthquake of 7.4 magnitude

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia at 07:34 local time on 10 August 2026. The epicenter lay near San José del Palmar in Chocó department, at a depth of roughly 96–110 km on a strike-slip fault within the subducting Nazca plate. The shaking lasted about two minutes and was felt across much of the country and into neighboring Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela.

As of the latest consolidated figures, at least 164 people are confirmed dead, more than 885 are injured, and over 3,200 remain listed as missing. Pereira recorded the highest local toll, with 60 deaths, including three at Matecaña International Airport where part of the structure collapsed. Cali reported 85 deaths and dozens of collapsed buildings. Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, and Buenaventura also suffered fatalities and structural damage. More than ten airports sustained damage or temporary closure. Peak ground acceleration reached 0.43 g in places such as Jamundí.

President Abelardo de la Espriella, sworn in only days earlier, declared a national state of emergency and a state of national disaster. He activated a Unified Command Post, deployed army rescue units, and coordinated with governors and mayors. Curfews were imposed in Cali and Pereira. Bogotá sent 100 rescuers to Cali. International offers of assistance arrived from Ecuador, the United States, the European Commission (via the Copernicus programme), Mexico, Israel, Chile, Argentina, and others.

The Colombian Geological Survey and the U.S. Geological Survey both recorded the event as the strongest earthquake in Colombia this century. More than thirty aftershocks followed, the largest magnitude 5.0. Building inspections continue in Medellín and other cities. The intermediate depth limited the intensity of surface shaking relative to a shallower event of the same magnitude, yet the duration and the concentration of poorly reinforced structures still produced widespread collapse.

Rescue work remains the immediate priority. Soldiers, professional teams, relatives, and volunteers continue searching under collapsed buildings. The scale of missing persons reports indicates the final death toll will rise.