Colombia earthquake kills 71, government declares national disaster

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake rocked western Colombia on August 10, 2026, claiming at least 71 lives and leaving a trail of destruction. The tremor, originating in the municipality of San José del Palmar in the Chocó department with a depth of approximately 96 km, is the most significant seismic event to hit the country in the last decade.

The hardest-hit regions are the Eje Cafetero and southwestern Colombia. Risaralda department reported 40 fatalities, with its capital, Pereira, experiencing partial building collapses and damage to critical infrastructure like the Matecaña International Airport. In Valle del Cauca, 27 deaths were confirmed, primarily in Cali, where facades crumbled, and older structures suffered severe structural cracks.

Caldas reported two deaths, and Manizales saw debris fall in its historic center and damage to its Cathedral Basilica. Chocó, near the epicenter, suffered injuries, power and communication outages, and landslides on secondary roads. The Colombian government has declared a "national disaster" status.

The earthquake's impact extended beyond the immediate vicinity, with strong tremors felt in major cities like Bogotá and Medellín. It also registered in neighboring Ecuador, Panama, and western Venezuela. The Colombian Geological Service (SGC) has recorded multiple aftershocks, including one of magnitude 4.8.