7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Western Colombia, Killing Dozens
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026, collapsing buildings in major cities and killing dozens of people, with death tolls rising as reporting continued. Outlets differ mainly on casualty figures reported at different times, reflecting the evolving nature of the disaster, while agreeing on the quake's magnitude, epicenter, and widespread structural damage.
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, 2026, at approximately 7:34 a.m. local time, according to the US and Colombian geological surveys. The epicenter was located near San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó, about 250 miles west of the capital, Bogotá. The quake caused significant destruction in several major cities, including Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, and Pereira, with buildings collapsing or sustaining severe damage. Tremors were also felt in neighboring Ecuador and Venezuela. Death toll figures varied across reports published at different times as the situation developed: early reports from Associated Press cited at least 47 deaths, while later reports from BBC News and NPR cited at least 111 deaths, with dozens more injured according to local officials. Search and rescue operations were underway in Cali, where search teams and civilian volunteers worked through rubble and debris from destroyed buildings, forming lines to pass concrete pieces by hand. Officials in Colombia confirmed the earthquake's magnitude and epicenter location, and rescue efforts were reported in multiple affected cities. The full extent of casualties and damage remained unclear as reporting continued, with death tolls still being updated across different publication times, ranging from 47 to over 111 fatalities. It is unresolved how many people remained trapped in collapsed structures or the total number of injured. The scale of damage to infrastructure beyond Cali and Pereira, as well as the specific rescue and recovery operations planned in the earthquake's aftermath, had not been fully detailed at the time of these reports.
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Watch: Moment powerful earthquake shakes Colombia and crumbles buildings
At least 111 people have been killed and dozens more injured after the 7.4 temblor hit the western part of the country, according to local officials.
Read original report ↗7.4 earthquake strikes western Colombia, killing over 100 people
The 7.4 magnitude earthquake's epicenter was San José del Palmar, about 250 miles west of Colombia's capital, Bogota, officials said.
Read original report ↗Magnitude 7.4 quake rocks western Colombia, killing at least 111 people
Search teams and civilians picked through the remains of destroyed buildings in the country's third-largest city, Cali, passing large pieces of concrete and rubble down a long line of volunteers.
Read original report ↗Scores dead after powerful earthquake strikes western Colombia
Quake of 7.4 magnitude collapses and severely damages buildings in several major cities, including Cali and Pereira Colombia earthquake live – latest updates More than 100 people have died after a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia, collapsing and severely damaging scores of buildings in major cities including Cali and Pereira. The US and Colombian geological surveys reported that a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck at 7.34am local time (13.34 BST) on Monday, with its epicentre in the western department of Chocó. It was also felt in neighbouring Venezuela, which is still reeling from a deadly double earthquake on 24 June. Continue reading...
Read original report ↗Terremoto en Colombia deja al menos 47 muertos y edificios colapsados con personas atrapadas
Read original report ↗Dozens killed after powerful earthquake strikes Colombia and Ecuador
The USGS reported a 7.4-magnitude, deep earthquake with the epicenter in San José del Palmar, about 250 miles west of the capital, Bogotá.
Read original report ↗