A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, resulting in at least 132 deaths and hundreds of injuries, according to statements from government officials. Emergency crews have launched large-scale search and rescue operations in affected cities, including Cali and Pereira, where the earthquake caused numerous buildings to collapse.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the earthquake’s epicenter was near San Jose Del Palmar in the remote Choco region, approximately 250 miles west of the capital, Bogota.
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office three days prior to the earthquake, addressed the media on Monday, stating that the government’s primary focus is rescuing individuals trapped in debris.
Official figures released Monday detailed the casualties across several regions. President De la Espriella confirmed 35 deaths in the city of Cali. Authorities in the Risaralda region, where Pereira is located, reported at least 40 fatalities. Additional deaths were confirmed by officials in the Choco, Caldas, and Antioquia regions. The president later announced that at least 700 people were injured in the Valle del Cauca region alone.
The earthquake caused significant damage to infrastructure. According to government reports, about 1,600 buildings have been damaged or destroyed. In Cali, a hospital director, Irne Torres Castro, told Caracol television that several upper floors of the facility collapsed, trapping some patients and requiring the evacuation of approximately 600 others. The towers of a historic cathedral in the city of Manizales also sustained damage.
In response to the event, the Colombian government declared a national state of emergency. President De la Espriella announced the mobilization of the “entire military and police apparatus” for the response effort and said approximately 1,000 security force members would be deployed to Cali. Local authorities in Cali and Pereira implemented curfews on Monday night. Operations at several regional airports were suspended to allow for structural inspections.
Rescue efforts continued through Tuesday, with soldiers, firefighters, and civilian volunteers working to clear rubble. In Cali, volunteers were seen forming human chains to remove debris by hand. Rescue teams in Pereira reported they were in contact with a boy trapped beneath a collapsed structure. Officials noted that assessing the full extent of the damage in the Choco region is difficult due to its remote location and limited accessibility.
Several countries have offered assistance. The United States announced $15.5 million in emergency aid for shelter, food, and other relief. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that Washington was monitoring the situation. The European Union announced it had mobilized its Copernicus satellite service to aid rescue operations. The presidents of El Salvador and Mexico also publicly offered support and assistance to Colombia.
