7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Devastates Western Colombia, Killing More Than 100

7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Devastates Western Colombia, Killing More Than 100

A devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing over 100 people, wrecking hundreds of buildings, and leaving untold numbers trapped beneath the rubble as rescue crews searched desperately for survivors.

Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella, who reported the death toll, said at least 87 people were injured and around 1,600 buildings were damaged, including at least 61 that completely collapsed. He declared an emergency to expedite funding for the quake recovery while saying he would visit the disaster zone.

“We aren’t going to leave people alone. They are in our hearts and we are going to tend to people with our full determination,” he said.

The epicenter was in San Jose Del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the Choco region about 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Bogota, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The quake also was felt in neighboring Ecuador and Panama, though minimal damage was reported there.

The quake ravaged cities across western Colombia, including Pereira, Quibdo, Cali and Manizales.

This morning's magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Colombia caused strong shaking across western Columbia. An estimated 1.5 million people experienced shaking near intensity 7, strong enough to cause damage to unreinforced masonry buildings especially. The earthquake occurred at a… pic.twitter.com/LZizq9Cu1b

— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) August 10, 2026

A number of buildings collapsed during the seismic event.

A harrowing video showed the collapse of a building after a powerful 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, bringing down buildings across several cities, killing at least 73 as the death toll rapidly rose and others were left trapped in the rubble.

The video shows the building crumbling during the earthquake with onlookers screaming in horror before it ultimately gives way.

…The highest reported death toll was in Pereira, a city in Colombia’s coffee-growing region, where Mayor Mauricio Salazar said 18 people had died. In nearby Manizales, Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas said three people were killed.

One person died in Buenaventura, Colombia’s main Pacific port, when a building collapsed, trapping several people, Mayor Ligia del Carmen Cordoba said.

A cathedral in Manizales collapsed.

🇨🇴 The moment the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Manizales, Colombia, partially collapsed during the powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake. pic.twitter.com/BzqUSPq1GT

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) August 10, 2026

Damage was heavy in Pereira.

OMG, this is terrifying. Footage showing the shaking from the M7.2 earthquake that hit Colombia earlier.

👀 Watch until the end.

📍 Pereirapic.twitter.com/vS2slBg53X

— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) August 10, 2026

Commercial aviation in Colombia has been suspended until airport safety assessments can be completed.

According to Colombia’s Civil Aviation Authority (Aerocivil), the affected airports are Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura and Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Cali, which was added later after inspections identified damage requiring further evaluation.

Commercial flights remain suspended at the affected airports until structural inspections are completed. Only medical flights and government aircraft are currently authorized to operate from those facilities.

Six airports across Colombia have suspended commercial flights following todays powerful M7.4 earthquake.

Authorities are checking airport infrastructure for damage before flights can safely resume. pic.twitter.com/CLeHhpWUXr

— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) August 10, 2026

The quake occurred deep underground within the Nazca plate as it was being subducted beneath South America.

Focal mechanism solutions for the event indicate rupture occurred on either a steeply-dipping oblique reverse and left-lateral strike-slip fault, or a moderately-dipping largely right-lateral strike-slip fault. The earthquake occurred in a region characterized by eastward subduction of the Nazca plate beneath the South America plate. Due to its depth, the earthquake likely occurred within the subducting Nazca plate.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake has struck western Colombia, with the epicentre in Chocó, around 150 miles from Bogotá.

Buildings have collapsed in Cali and there is heavy damage in Manizales. It was felt as far as Panama, Ecuador and Venezuela.

It is the strongest quake the country… pic.twitter.com/oHaZNSmfxd

— Megalithic Mysteries (@Megalithic12000) August 10, 2026

Additionally, a volcano in the region is showing signs of increased activity and the area is now under an orange alert. Sections of a national park have been closed to tourists.

The Puracé volcano, located in the department of Cauca, southwest of Colombia, has shown an increase in activity that has led to the temporary suspension of tourist access in certain areas of its surroundings. The Colombian Geological Service (SGC) issued a recent bulletin indicating an increase in seismic signals due to fluid movement in the volcano and reports ash emissions, including a 1,000-meter column recorded on December 9.

In response to this situation, Colombia’s National Natural Parks decided to temporarily close several sectors of the Puracé National Natural Park. This measure covers trails to the Puracé volcano, the Coconucos volcanic chain, the San Juan hot springs, and the San Nicolás waterfall. During the closure, entry is prohibited for both tourists and ecotourism service providers until the volcano’s alert level decreases.

Scientists from the SGC have identified a series of signals associated with the movement of gases and hot materials through the volcano’s internal conduits. This phenomenon, along with the ash emissions reported to the Civil Aeronautics, impacts not only local communities but also air traffic management, given the expansion of the ash plume with the winds.

Following the major earthquake, powerful ash and gas emissions have been recorded from Puracé Volcano in Cauca, which remains under an Orange Alert amid heightened fears of an impending eruption. https://t.co/TfVNH2hwLe

— THE GLOBAL NEWS. (@THE_GLOBE_N) August 10, 2026

Colombia now faces the grim work of finding survivors, stabilizing damaged communities, and restoring vital transportation links after this catastrophic quake. Hopefully, there will be no further seismic or volcanic activity impeding the rescue efforts, and that the nation can build back stronger.

Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.