A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, 2026, killing at least 111 people and damaging hundreds of buildings. Many residents were trapped under debris as loved ones and rescue workers picked through the rubble. The quake's epicenter was in San Jose Del Palmar, a municipality within the Choco region, about 250 miles west of Bogotá.
Choco, one of Colombia’s poorest regions, is nestled in dense jungle. Much of it is only reachable by boat or plane, which will complicate efforts to assess the full toll of the disaster. The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the epicenter's location in this remote area, a community of about 4,800 people.
Álvaro López, a resident in Cali, cradled his dog as he watched the search. “Our building has basically been left in ruins, and the building next to ours? Completely collapsed,” he stated, reflecting the widespread destruction.
The Cost of Neglect
The death toll included at least 40 people killed in the Risaralda region, where Pereira is located. Another 27 people died in the Valle del Cauca region, home to Cali, including three children. Authorities confirmed nine people killed in Choco, two in the Caldas region, and a 73-year-old in the Antioquia region. The fate of the remaining 32 victims was not immediately clear.
Colombia’s Geological Service reported Monday’s quake as the country’s strongest recorded in the 21st century. It was followed by several aftershocks, further destabilizing already damaged structures. The Pacific region, including Choco, lies along the seismically active “Ring of Fire,” a natural vulnerability exacerbated by systemic underdevelopment.
In Pereira, photos and videos showed pieces of the airport ceiling falling onto travelers. Residents described collapsed stores, residential buildings, and homes lining the city streets. Pereira Mayor Mauricio Salazar told a local radio station that at least 15 buildings had collapsed, with people feared trapped inside.
State Response and Imperial Aid
President Abelardo de la Espriella, a Trump ally who recently took office, declared an emergency to expedite funding for quake recovery. He pledged, “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.” This declaration came as his first major challenge, following a divisive campaign focused on cracking down on criminal groups.
On Monday night, the U.S. State Department announced it would provide $15.5 million for emergency shelter, food, and other earthquake response aid. Governments across Latin America also offered assistance. El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed readiness to help, with Bukele offering rescue teams, medical personnel, and supplies. Chilean President José Antonio Kast, whose country is prone to earthquakes, also pledged support.
Community Mobilization
Search and rescue efforts were underway early Tuesday across western Colombia. In Cali, residents and rescue workers searched through the rubble of collapsed buildings. Civilians formed long lines, passing concrete and other debris as they worked to free those trapped. Patients were evacuated from a hospital after the quake, highlighting the immediate community response.
Little was known about the full extent of the damage in Choco, the remote region closest to the epicenter. Phone signals were out in many parts of Quibdo, the region’s capital. The town of San Jose del Palmar, with no airport, sits on a mountain ridge along a highway linking Cali and Pereira, complicating access for external aid. In Manizales, a tower of the neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed onto the nave, and flights were suspended at multiple regional airports for damage assessment. Small earthquakes are common, but those above 6.0 magnitude are rare; a 6.2 magnitude quake near Armenia 27 years ago killed over 1,100 people, a stark reminder of the long-standing structural vulnerabilities in the region.