Colombia Quake: National Emergency Declared After Strongest Temblor This Century Kills At Least 132

Courtesy: PHIVOLCS

At least 132 people have been killed and 570 others are injured after a devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia near San José del Palmar on Monday, August 10, 2026.

The powerful temblor, recognized by the national geological agency as the most powerful earthquake registered in Colombia this century, prompted newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella to declare a national state of emergency to expedite disaster funding and boost urgent rescue operations. Search-and-rescue teams, supported by civilian volunteers and deployed military units, are racing against time to dig survivors out of collapsed structures across multiple cities.

Epicenter and Seismic Data

According to data verified by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Colombian Geological Survey, the earthquake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time (12:34 UTC).

• Coordinates: The epicenter was located approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) east of the rural village of San José del Palmar, situated in the underdeveloped, Pacific-coast department of Chocó.
• Depth: The quake registered an intermediate depth of 110.3 kilometers (68.5 miles). While intermediate depth often cushions surface destruction, the massive energy released still leveled towns and shook structures over a massive radius.

Widespread Destruction and Urban Toll

Widespread structural damage has devastated the Chocó, Risaralda, Caldas, and Valle del Cauca departments. According to initial statistics released by the Colombian Association of Capital Cities, the tremor completely collapsed at least 61 buildings, severely damaged 1,575 homes, and impacted 18 health centers and 52 educational institutions.

• Cali: In Colombia’s third-largest city, at least 20 buildings collapsed, trapping an undetermined number of residents under heavy concrete. A critical emergency developed at a local hospital where the pediatric and neonatal wings partially gave way, leaving several infants and patients trapped in the wreckage. Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder issued an urgent appeal to neighboring Medellín and Bogotá to deploy specialized K9 and rescue units.
• Pereira: Located within Colombia’s coffee-growing hub, Pereira bore the brunt of the casualties. Entire multi-story buildings crumbled into piles of dust and rubble, with multiple fatalities concentrated here.
• Manizales: The quake caused structural failures throughout the city, including the dramatic collapse of one of the iconic main towers of the historic Manizales Cathedral.
• Chocó Region: Near the epicenter, governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba reported severe damage, noting that comprehensive rescue updates have been slowed significantly due to localized cellular network and communications outages.

Mass Evacuations and Transit Halts

The intense shaking was felt hundreds of kilometers away in the capital of Bogotá, where office workers and residents fled into the streets as emergency sirens rang out. Shockwaves also reverberated across international borders, causing mass preventative evacuations in Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela. No tsunami threat was generated by the terrestrial quake.

To ensure public safety and check for runway cracks or control tower damage, the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority suspended commercial flight operations at six regional airports, leaving national and international flights canceled or rerouted. Affected transit hubs include airports serving Cali, Quibdó, Pereira, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura.

Humanitarian Response

International entities have begun mobilizing aid. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) activated its regional crisis centers to coordinate local chapters on the ground providing first aid and emergency shelter. Additionally, humanitarian networks like World Central Kitchen announced they have activated emergency food relief operations to supply hot meals to first responders and displaced families.

Diplomatic support came quickly, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating via social media that the administration is monitoring the disaster closely and stands ready to assist.