Colombia Suffers Devastating 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, August 10, 2026, with its epicenter located near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department. The disaster is described as the worst the country has faced in 27 years. According to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), the earthquake left 304 people dead, 4,548 injured, and 426 missing. The event affected 472 municipalities across 15 departments, impacting 123,789 families and 292,043 individuals.

Cali and Pereira reported some of the most severe losses. Cali recorded 96 deaths and 111 missing persons, with significant damage to housing and police stations. Pereira reported 93 deaths and the highest number of missing persons at 260. In Manizales, authorities reported 1,970 damaged homes and 1,449 collapsed homes. In Quibdó, the capital closest to the epicenter, nine people died and 119 were injured.

Secondary emergencies have emerged in the aftermath. Heavy rains and unusual sea level increases have caused flooding in Buenaventura, Quibdó, and Pereira, further endangering those already displaced by the quake. Additionally, a new tremor was reported in Chocó during the early hours of August 18.

Humanitarian efforts have involved both government and private actors. Singer Shakira visited Chocó and promised to rebuild at least ten schools, while other public figures like Westcol, La Liendra, and Yeferson Cossio delivered aid to affected regions. Meanwhile, political controversy has arisen regarding Housing Minister Jaime Andrés Beltrán. He faced criticism after images surfaced of him in Santa Marta during the emergency; he denied being on vacation, stating he was visiting family.

Recovery efforts continue as search teams work through rubble, including at the University Hospital of the Valley in Cali, where a tower partially collapsed.