The death toll from the devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia is rising dramatically, with at least 132 people confirmed dead and 570 injured, as rescue teams continue to search for people trapped in the rubble. Pereira is at the epicenter of the disaster with 60 deaths, while five major cities are on red alert and seven airports remain closed.
Dramatic toll: 132 dead and 570 injured
The latest report released by the Colombian Association of Capital Cities raises the death toll to 132 and the number of injured to 570, as authorities continue to gather information from the areas that have suffered the most damage.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Pereira is so far the city that has paid the heaviest toll, with 60 deaths reported. At the same time, according to the latest available data, 86 buildings have collapsed across the country, and five cities—Pereira, Cali, Quibdó, Manizales, and Armenia—are on red alert.
At this time, authorities are working closely with the community to carry out rescue operations and search for survivors following the collapse of a building in downtown Pereira on Monday, August 10.
In the capital of Risaralda, more than 12… pic.twitter.com/gGhAHpB7Pi
Advertisement— EL TIEMPO (@ELTIEMPO) August 10, 2026
The situation remains fluid, as search operations continue in the destroyed buildings and there are fears that people are still trapped under the rubble.
Structural damage in the Villa neighborhood, Pereira pic.twitter.com/KLvBqVgBWv
— Pereira En Vivo (@pereiraenvivo) August 10, 2026
Pereira Mayor Mauricio Salazar described the situation as “critical” from the very beginning, citing numerous injuries and people trapped.
The governor of Risaralda, Juan Diego Patino, also described “serious damage to some buildings,” noting that the images from Pereira are “truly shocking, with injured people and collapsed building facades.”
A building literally crumbles as huge chunks of concrete fall near people running out of it in Colombia during the 7.4-magnitude earthquake. pic.twitter.com/ln1t5dHkcU
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) August 10, 2026
A Race Against Time for Those Trapped
Search and rescue operations are in full swing, with rescuers, firefighters, and military personnel working at the sites where buildings have collapsed.
Among the structures that sustained severe damage are the pediatric and neonatal wards of the hospital in Cali, a fact that has prompted a major mobilization of emergency services.
The government has declared a state of national disaster and has deployed military forces to the affected areas, with the top priority being to locate and rescue people from the rubble. Authorities have recorded more than 1,500 damaged homes, while a previous official assessment reported at least 61 buildings that had completely collapsed.
NEW footage is circulating from a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Colombia’s Pacific region today.
The epicenter was near San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó, at a depth of about 96 km.
It was felt strongly across much of Colombia—including Bogotá, Medellín, and… pic.twitter.com/X03limcIts
Advertisement— Clash Report (@clashreport) August 10, 2026
Six hours trapped on a cable car in Pereira
One of the most remarkable rescue operations took place in Pereira, where 16 people were trapped inside cable car cabins when the earthquake struck.
The passengers remained suspended in the air for about six hours until their evacuation was successfully completed at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time.
A group of Colombians was riding a cable car when the strong earthquake that shook the country began.
AdvertisementAs the ground shook, the passengers were left suspended in the air, experiencing moments of sheer terror.
The… pic.twitter.com/OJBCuINgLE
— Ventana Pública (@ventanaXpublica) August 11, 2026
Operations on the Pereira cable car system have been suspended until further notice so that thorough safety inspections can be carried out.
Aerial cable cars are a particularly popular form of public transportation in Colombia, especially in mountainous cities, connecting neighborhoods on the hillsides with urban centers.
A similar incident was reported in Manizales, in the mountainous coffee-growing region, where passengers also had to be evacuated from a cable car and the system was shut down due to structural damage.
OMG, this is terrifying. Footage showing the shaking from the M7.2 earthquake that hit Colombia earlier.
Watch until the end.
Pereira pic.twitter.com/vS2slBg53X
— Volcaholic
(@volcaholic1) August 10, 2026
Seven airports out of service
The damage has also caused serious problems for transportation. Seven airports—in Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura—have suspended flights so that their facilities can be inspected.
Eyewitness video captured the terrifying moment Monday’s powerful earthquake struck Pereira’s Matecaña International Airport in Colombia. https://t.co/jS8NNXzvfX pic.twitter.com/njpuUgpZkX
— ABC News (@ABC) August 11, 2026
The temporary suspension of operations is also hampering efforts to transport personnel and aid to some of the hardest-hit areas.
Once the tremor subsided, the aircraft resumed its maneuver… pic.twitter.com/mWy1umFqe6
— EL TIEMPO (@ELTIEMPO) August 11, 2026
In Cali, dozens of building collapses or instances of severe damage have been reported, and from the very first hours of the disaster, there were reports of people trapped.
WATCH: Video appears to show multiple buildings collapsed in Cali, Colombia, following the powerful 7.4M earthquake (terremoto) pic.twitter.com/D8v5gNeMwJ
— Scope Report (@ScopeReport_) August 10, 2026
“We started praying; others were crying, but thank God, we’re okay,” said Ana Milena Grichalba, who, along with many residents, took refuge in a park after the tremor.
The epicenter and the earthquake that was felt as far as Bogotá
The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck on Monday morning, with the epicenter located near San José del Palmar, in the Chocó department of western Colombia, about 240 kilometers west of Bogotá.
The region is considered one of the least developed in the country, and difficulties with communications and transportation have delayed a full assessment of the damage.
The quake had a deep focal depth, over 100 kilometers, and was felt over a very large area.
damage in Pereira and several other cities across the country following a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake.
| NONSTOP COVERAGE.
| NOW on @AlertaNews24. pic.twitter.com/PydNenQcVu— Alerta News 24 (@AlertaNews24) August 10, 2026
In the capital, Bogotá, alarms were triggered, and thousands of residents evacuated buildings as a precaution and took to the streets. Mayor Carlos Galán reported that the city mainly experienced superficial cracks rather than widespread damage.
The tremor was also felt in Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela.
“You are not alone,” says the new president
The earthquake is the first major test for Abelardo de la Espriegua, who was sworn in as president of Colombia just last Friday.
The new president announced that he has personally taken charge of coordinating the crisis response and that he will visit the hardest-hit areas.
“I have immediately taken charge of the emergency response in San José del Palmar. I have ordered the establishment of a Joint Operations Center to coordinate the response to the damage and assist those affected. “I have requested a detailed report on the situation and the most urgent needs,” he said.
“111 dead, 87 injured, 1,575 homes affected, 37 homes completely destroyed, 61 buildings collapsed, 18 health centers affected, 52 schools affected, 17 community centers affected, 18 roads damaged, and six airports affected": President… pic.twitter.com/YAQS1C4qna
— Noticias Caracol (@NoticiasCaracol) August 10, 2026
De la Espriega added that he would travel personally to Pereira “to stand with those affected and confirm the government’s response.”
“You are not alone. The government is here and taking action,” he emphasized.
“We have neither electricity nor cell service”
Accounts from the affected areas reflect the intensity of the tremor and the difficulties residents are facing.
“There’s no electricity and no cell service,” said 66-year-old Martha Estrada from the so-called “brown zone.”
“It was strong, very strong… things fell inside the house,” she added.
In Pereira, 50-year-old Jaime Zuluaga described many buildings with structural damage or destroyed facades, while residents were reluctant to return to their homes for fear of new strong tremors.
Why the earthquake caused destruction despite its great depth
Greek seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos pointed out that the earthquake’s great focal depth—approximately 100 to 115 kilometers—could theoretically limit the severity of the effects on the surface.
“A major 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia. Although the epicenter is on land, the effects may be relatively limited due to the significant depth of the focus,” he wrote in the hours immediately following the quake.
The earthquake in Colombia occurred just over a month after two devastating quakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale struck neighboring Venezuela on June 24, which claimed the lives of more than 6,000 people.
However, scientists point out that these are different geotectonic phenomena. In western South America, the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate plays a significant role, while the earthquakes in Venezuela were linked to the interaction between the South American and Caribbean plates.
Furthermore, the earthquakes in Venezuela had a much shallower focal depth, less than 20 kilometers, in contrast to the tremor in Colombia, which occurred at a depth of more than 100 kilometers.
International mobilization and $15.5 million from the U.S.
At the same time, international mobilization to support Colombia is growing.
The United States has announced $15.5 million in aid, which is intended, among other things, for tents and temporary shelters, food, measures to protect those affected, and damage assessment.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Trump administration is “closely monitoring” developments and is ready to support the Colombian people, while urging U.S. citizens in the country to follow updates from the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also announced that her country is ready to offer “any necessary support,” while Israel offered to assist following the recent restoration of diplomatic relations with Colombia. International offers of assistance have also come from other countries in the region.
Condolences from Greece
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed its deep sorrow over the loss of life.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended its sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, while also expressing its support for the injured and all those affected.
“Our thoughts are with the injured, with all those affected, and with the rescue teams working tirelessly on the ground,” it stated in its announcement.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with authorities warning that the death toll may change as crews gain access to devastated areas and search through the rubble.
Source: Proto Thema
