At least 111 people were killed as the magnitude 7.4 quake damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings across western Colombia.
CALI, COLOMBIA — Rescue crews and volunteers searched through collapsed buildings late Monday after a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 111 people and leaving others trapped beneath rubble in several cities.
The Aug. 10 earthquake caused extensive damage across Cali, Pereira, Quibdó and Manizales and was felt as far away as Bogotá and in neighboring countries. President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national emergency as authorities moved rescue teams, security personnel and relief supplies into affected communities. The government said saving people trapped in damaged buildings was its immediate priority as officials worked to determine the full scale of the disaster.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake struck at a depth of about 107 kilometers, or 66 miles. Its epicenter was near San José del Palmar in Chocó, about 400 kilometers, or 250 miles, west of Bogotá. Colombia’s Geological Service described it as the strongest earthquake recorded in the country in the 21st century and reported a series of aftershocks after the main quake.
Damage stretched across several western departments. Authorities had identified at least 40 deaths in Risaralda, where Pereira is located, and 27 in Valle del Cauca, which includes Cali. Nine deaths were reported in Chocó, two in Caldas and one in Antioquia. Officials had not immediately provided locations for all of the remaining confirmed deaths. Earlier government figures also listed at least 87 injured people, although later regional reports indicated hundreds of injuries in Valle del Cauca alone, leaving the nationwide injury total unclear.
About 1,600 buildings were reported damaged, including at least 61 that completely collapsed. In Cali, residents joined emergency workers in removing chunks of concrete and other debris while teams searched for signs of life. Firefighter Mauricio Andrade told Reuters that his team had pulled two women and two children alive from one collapsed building and was preparing to continue the rescue operation.
Pereira was also among the hardest-hit cities. Local officials reported numerous collapsed buildings where people were feared trapped, while images and video showed heavy structural damage across commercial and residential areas. At the city’s airport, pieces of the ceiling fell as travelers sought shelter. In nearby Manizales, part of a tower at the city’s neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed. Authorities urged residents to remain alert because of continuing aftershocks.
Damage to transportation and medical facilities complicated the response. Colombia’s civil aviation authority suspended operations at airports including Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura while engineers inspected structures. Hospitals in affected cities also dealt with damage and evacuations. Phone service was disrupted in parts of Chocó, making it harder for authorities to assess conditions in remote communities near the epicenter.
Chocó presented a particular challenge for emergency teams because much of the department is covered by dense jungle and many communities are reached primarily by river or aircraft. San José del Palmar, the municipality near the epicenter, has no airport and sits along a mountainous road between Cali and Pereira. Officials said the extent of damage in some isolated areas remained uncertain as communications and transportation links were assessed.
The earthquake also triggered a large search for people whose whereabouts remained unknown. Families began posting information about missing relatives on online databases while rescue teams concentrated on collapsed structures in Cali and Pereira. Authorities had not established how many of those listed as missing were trapped, displaced, unable to communicate or had already been located, making the online figures an unreliable measure of the number of people still beneath debris.
De la Espriella said the national government had deployed resources to protect lives and assist affected communities. He visited Quibdó and Cali as the emergency response expanded and said support would be provided to people who lost their homes. Authorities also increased security in several cities, including Cali, where additional police and military personnel were ordered onto the streets. Curfews were announced in Cali, Armenia and Manizales amid concerns about public safety following the disaster.
International assistance began to emerge Monday night. The United States announced $15.5 million for emergency shelter, food and other earthquake response needs, while governments elsewhere in Latin America offered help. The disaster comes in a country that experiences frequent seismic activity along the Pacific Ring of Fire. A magnitude 6.2 earthquake near Armenia in 1999 killed more than 1,000 people and caused widespread destruction in Colombia’s coffee-growing region.
Rescue operations remained focused on finding survivors as darkness covered the hardest-hit communities. The confirmed death toll could change as crews reach damaged buildings and isolated areas, and authorities were continuing to assess hospitals, airports, homes and other infrastructure while monitoring additional aftershocks.
Author note: Last updated August 11, 2026.