The deadly earthquake in Colombia’s capital is turning into a national tragedy, as the 7.4-magnitude quake that struck the San José del Palmar region has left behind a tragic toll of dead, injured, and missing persons that continues to rise.
Specifically, according to the country’s president, Abelardo de la Espriegua, more than 111 people have died nationwide, at least 87 have been injured, 61 buildings have collapsed, and 1,575 homes have been damaged, he added.
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The Colombian president added that rescuing the victims is a priority for his government.
At the same time, Colombia declared a state of national disaster, as this was the strongest earthquake to hit the country in the last decade, according to Julio Fierro Morales, director of the country’s Geological Survey.
In addition, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriegua convened an emergency committee to address the tragedy.
In the country’s capital, the earthquake was strongly felt; alarms went off, and people in many buildings were evacuated onto the streets as a precaution.
Meanwhile, Cali Mayor Alejandro Ender stated that at least 20 buildings collapsed following the earthquake, adding that people are trapped beneath the rubble.
The city has requested assistance from teams in Bogotá and Medellín to help with rescue efforts, he added.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, damage was reported at six airports (Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura), which have suspended operations and are not currently handling flights.
The epicenter was located in San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó, approximately 280 kilometers west of Bogotá, at a depth of 107 kilometers at 7:34 a.m. (local time, 8:34 a.m. Miami time), according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
ATTENTION: Strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 in Colombia. pic.twitter.com/RASSxEHnuG https://t.co/RASSxEHnuG
— Alerta Mundial (@AlertaMundoNews) August 10, 2026
According to the governor of Chocó province, significant damage to buildings and loss of life have already been reported.
The same situation occurred in cities such as Bogotá and Cali, where the tremor was strongly felt. pic.twitter.com/ieFZfbvXRM
— Alerta News 24 (@AlertaNews24) August 10, 2026
The earthquake was felt in the capital, Bogotá, and in Cali, as well as in Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama.
