7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Western Colombia, Killing Dozens

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.4 in magnitude struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, 2026, at approximately 7:34am local time. The US Geological Survey and Colombian authorities identified the epicenter as near San José del Palmar in the western department of Chocó, roughly 250 miles west of the capital, Bogotá. The quake collapsed and severely damaged buildings in several major cities, including Cali and Pereira, with people reported trapped in rubble. Death tolls reported by officials varied as the situation developed, ranging from at least 47 in earlier reports to more than 100, with one figure citing 111 confirmed deaths; dozens more were reported injured. Local and national officials in Colombia provided the casualty figures cited by international outlets. The earthquake's tremors were felt beyond Colombia's borders, with impacts also reported in Ecuador and neighboring Venezuela, the latter still recovering from a separate deadly double earthquake on June 24. The final death toll remained unconfirmed as rescue and recovery operations continued, with figures still being updated by authorities at the time of reporting. The full extent of structural damage across affected cities, the total number of people injured or missing, and the specific scope of impact in Ecuador had not yet been fully detailed in available reporting. Emergency response efforts were ongoing as officials worked to assess damage and search for survivors.