A devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, killing at least 111 people and damaging around 1,600 buildings, presenting the first major test for President Abelardo de la Espriella, who was sworn in just days earlier. The disaster's economic toll continues mounting as rescue teams search through rubble in Cali, the country's third-largest city, while six regional airports remain closed pending damage assessments.
The epicenter hit San Jose Del Palmar, a municipality in the Choco region about 250 miles west of Colombia's capital, Bogotá, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. At least 87 people were injured and at least 61 buildings completely collapsed, de la Espriella confirmed. He declared an emergency to expedite funding for quake recovery. "We aren't going to leave people alone," he said. "They are in our hearts and we are going to tend to people with our full determination."
Infrastructure and Economic Impact
The quake forced suspension of flights at airports in Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura and Pereira as authorities assessed structural damage. In Pereira, located in Colombia's coffee-producing mountains, photos showed pieces of the airport ceiling falling onto travelers taking shelter. Residents reported collapsed stores, residential buildings and homes throughout the city. Mayor Mauricio Salazar told local radio there were at least 15 collapsed buildings where people were feared trapped.
Álvaro López, watching rescue efforts while cradling his dog, described the scene in Cali: "Our building has basically been left in ruins, and the building next to ours? Completely collapsed." Search teams and civilians formed long lines of volunteers, passing large pieces of concrete and rubble as they worked through destroyed structures.
Colombia's Geological Service said Monday's quake was the country's strongest recorded "in the 21st century," followed by several aftershocks. The Pacific region around the epicenter lies along the "Ring of Fire," the line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean where most of the world's earthquakes occur.
Regional Death Toll and Remote Areas
Local authorities said the death toll included at least 40 people killed in the Risaralda region, where Pereira is located, and 27 people in the Valle del Cauca region, where Cali is located, including three children. Authorities also confirmed nine people killed in Choco, two in the Caldas region and a 73-year-old in the Antioquia region. It wasn't immediately clear where the other 32 people died.
The Pacific, particularly the Choco region, is one of Colombia's poorest, nestled in dense jungle. Much of Choco is only reachable by boat or plane, which may pose difficulty in assessing the wider toll. Phone signals were out in many parts of the region's capital, Quibdo. San Jose del Palmar, the town closest to the earthquake's epicenter with about 4,800 people, has no airport and is located on top of a mountain ridge along a highway linking Cali and Pereira.
Little was known about the extent of damage in Choco, where officials reported dozens of injured people and damaged buildings but few other details. Bogotá sustained minimal damage from the quake, though residents evacuated homes as far as the capital.
New President's First Crisis
Response to the earthquake presented the first major challenge for de la Espriella, a Trump ally who was sworn in as president over the weekend. A divisive figure because of his pledge of an all-out crackdown on criminal groups, de la Espriella said he had personally taken charge of the government's response to the emergency.
In nearby Manizales, one of the towers of the neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed and fell on the nave. Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas asked residents to stay outside in case of aftershocks. Small earthquakes, known as "temblores," are common in central and western Colombia, but those above 6.0 magnitude are rare. In 1999, a 6.2 magnitude quake near the city of Armenia killed more than 1,100 people.
International Response
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 lined up to help. El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said they were ready to assist Colombia. "From El Salvador, we are in communication and ready to provide immediate support with our rescue teams, medical personnel, paramedics, supplies, or any other assistance that our Colombian brothers and sisters deem necessary," Bukele said. Chilean President José Antonio Kast said Chile, one of the region's most earthquake-prone countries, "knows the pain and the challenge left by earthquakes" and pledged help.
Why This Matters:
The earthquake's timing couldn't be more challenging for de la Espriella's administration, testing his government's crisis management capabilities within days of taking office. The disaster's fiscal impact will strain Colombia's budget as emergency funding gets expedited, while the closure of six regional airports disrupts commerce in the country's vital coffee-producing region. The remote nature of Choco, reachable only by boat or plane in many areas, highlights infrastructure vulnerabilities that may complicate damage assessment and relief delivery. With 1,600 buildings damaged and search efforts ongoing, the economic toll will likely climb substantially. The U.S.'s $15.5 million commitment demonstrates the value of strong bilateral relationships in crisis response, while the rapid pledges from regional allies underscore the importance of hemispheric cooperation when government resources face sudden, massive demands.