7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Kills 181 in Western Colombia

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, 2026, killing at least 181 people and injuring more than 1,400, according to a joint statement from the mayors of major affected cities. The quake, which hit at 7:34 a.m. local time, triggered a national state of emergency and a massive international aid response just days after President Abelardo de la Espriella took office.

The epicenter was located near the village of San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó, at a depth of approximately 107 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The tremor was felt across much of Colombia, including the capital Bogotá, and in neighboring Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela. The Colombian Geological Service reported it was the strongest earthquake to strike the country this century, followed by more than 45 aftershocks.

The hardest-hit areas included the cities of Pereira, Cali, and Manizales in Colombia's coffee-growing region. Pereira, a city of half a million people, was described as the most severely affected, with local figures indicating between 40 and 60 deaths. In Cali, officials reported at least 20 buildings collapsed, and hundreds of...