On Monday, a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 132 people, injuring hundreds, and leaving people trapped beneath collapsed buildings as rescue teams searched through the rubble.
Magnitude 7.4 Quake Strikes Colombia
The earthquake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time at a depth of about 103 kilometers, with its epicenter near San José del Palmar in Chocó province, reported BBC News.
The shaking spread across western Colombia and was felt in Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama.
Pereira and surrounding areas suffered some of the worst damage, with at least 40 deaths reported in the metropolitan area and 65 buildings collapsed. People were believed trapped inside 15 of those structures.
More than 480 people were injured, while more than 1,500 homes were damaged. In Cali, 32 buildings collapsed.
"I’ve never experienced anything like it," London tourist Dan Cutler told the BBC after the quake shook his hotel in Cali.
He added, "We sprinted outside in our pyjamas."
Buildings Collapse as Rescue Efforts Begin
In Manizales, resident Angélica Ávila described a chaotic scene in which "everyone was screaming" as bricks fell from buildings.
Colombia’s aviation authority also reported damage at several regional airports, including those in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura.
Colombia President Leads Earthquake Response
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said he was personally overseeing the earthquake response, ordering a Unified Command Post in San José del Palmar and an urgent assessment of needs.
He also planned to travel to Pereira to support affected residents.
He asumido directamente el liderazgo de la atención por la emergencia en San José del Palmar. He ordenado la instalación de un Puesto de Mando Unificado para coordinar la atención de los daños y de los damnificados.
— Abelardo De La Espriella (@ABDELAESPRIELLA) August 10, 2026
Le he solicitado al director de la UNGRD un reporte detallado…
Espriella said Colombia had allocated emergency funds and humanitarian aid for more than 1,400 affected people in Chocó, with injured patients being transferred to Medellín and rental subsidies planned for families.
El Gobierno Nacional está con el pueblo chocoano.
— Abelardo De La Espriella (@ABDELAESPRIELLA) August 11, 2026
Ya se han dispuesto los recursos económicos inmediatos y la ayuda humanitaria para respaldar a las más de 1.400 familias y personas damnificadas.
Los heridos y quienes requieren atención médica prioritaria, están siendo… pic.twitter.com/7HmhZxdIwA
In another post, he said the government was prioritizing injured people, searching for those missing and strengthening security in Cali.
En Cali, nuestra prioridad son las familias afectadas y las personas desaparecidas que ha dejado esta tragedia natural.
— Abelardo De La Espriella (@ABDELAESPRIELLA) August 11, 2026
Desde el Gobierno Nacional, en articulación con las autoridades departamentales y locales, trabajamos sin descanso en la atención de los heridos, la búsqueda… pic.twitter.com/WFGLM3ofCm
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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Photo Courtesy: Boris Stroujko on Shutterstock.com
