Colombia Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 132

Published: 11 August 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake has devastated western Colombia, killing at least 132 people and injuring more than 570 others as rescuers search collapsed buildings and authorities struggle to assess the full scale of the destruction.

The earthquake struck at about 7.34am local time on Monday, with its epicentre in the western department of Chocó. The powerful tremor was felt across large areas of Colombia and in neighbouring countries, while some of the worst destruction was reported in and around Pereira, Cali and Manizales.

The death toll has risen sharply since the first reports emerged. Colombian authorities initially reported 111 deaths and 87 injuries, but later updates put the number of fatalities at 132, with more than 570 people injured. The figures remain provisional as emergency crews continue searching damaged buildings and authorities assess remote and heavily affected communities.

The scale of the disaster prompted the Colombian government to declare a national state of emergency and mobilise its resources for rescue, medical treatment and relief operations.

President Abelardo de la Espriella said the government’s immediate priority was saving people trapped beneath rubble and delivering assistance to communities affected by the earthquake.

The disaster struck across a densely populated part of western Colombia, where many towns and cities contain older buildings that can be particularly vulnerable to prolonged and powerful shaking.

Pereira, the capital of Risaralda department, emerged as one of the hardest-hit locations. Earlier reports placed the city’s death toll at 40, while subsequent national figures indicated that the overall number of victims had continued to rise.

Local officials reported widespread structural collapses and said people were believed to be trapped inside several buildings.

Hospitals in Pereira were also overwhelmed by injured residents. Earlier reports indicated that five hospitals had received large numbers of casualties as emergency workers attempted to treat people injured by collapsing walls, roofs and other debris.

In Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, authorities reported numerous collapsed buildings and residents trapped inside damaged structures.

Mayor Alejandro Eder said emergency teams were working first to establish where people were trapped and then to organise rescue operations.

He urged residents to inspect their homes and other buildings for structural damage before deciding whether it was safe to return.

“If you do not feel safe, if you see very large cracks, please leave the building,” he warned.

The warning was particularly important because strong earthquakes can be followed by aftershocks, which may bring down buildings already weakened by the initial tremor.

In Manizales, the capital of Caldas department, officials reported significant damage to homes and other buildings. Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas Giraldo urged residents to remain outside damaged structures and prepare for further shaking.

The earthquake produced scenes of panic across the affected cities.

Raúl Andrés Buitrago, who works in Pereira, described feeling the shaking intensify rapidly while he was preparing to leave for work.

He said the earthquake initially felt relatively weak but became stronger with each passing moment. As people fled buildings, roofs and other structures began falling, creating dangerous conditions on the streets.

For residents accustomed to occasional minor tremors, the intensity and duration of Monday’s earthquake came as a profound shock.

Videos circulating online showed people searching through rubble for survivors. Other footage appeared to show buildings collapsing as the ground shook, while residents ran for safety.

The Colombian government has urged people to rely on official information and avoid entering damaged structures while emergency assessments are taking place.

Chocó, where the earthquake was centred, also suffered serious damage. The department’s governor, Nubia Carolina Córdoba, said people had been injured and buildings had been severely damaged in Quibdó, the regional capital.

The earthquake’s epicentre was located more than 1,000 kilometres from Colombia’s capital, Bogotá, but the tremor was felt over a much wider area.

The event also revived memories of devastating seismic activity in neighbouring Venezuela.

Venezuela was struck by two major earthquakes in June, with the disaster causing thousands of deaths and severe destruction along the country’s northern coast.

The latest Colombian earthquake therefore came at a particularly difficult time for the wider region, where emergency services and governments are already dealing with the consequences of recent seismic disasters.

Infrastructure has also been heavily affected.

Authorities reported damage at airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Cartago, Armenia and Buenaventura. Disruption to aviation could complicate the delivery of emergency supplies and the movement of rescue teams, particularly to communities that are difficult to reach by road.

Roads and other infrastructure can also be affected by landslides, falling debris and structural damage after a major earthquake, potentially isolating communities that require urgent assistance.

The government has therefore been attempting to coordinate rescue, medical and security operations across multiple departments simultaneously.

Security has emerged as another concern.

Authorities in Cali, Armenia and Manizales introduced curfews after officials reported concerns about potential looting in areas affected by the earthquake.

Cali deployed police and military personnel to protect neighbourhoods and maintain order while emergency operations continued.

President de la Espriella also promised additional security personnel for Cali as authorities attempted to reassure residents and protect affected areas.

For people who have lost homes or can no longer safely return to them, the coming days will bring another major challenge: finding temporary accommodation and accessing basic necessities.

The Colombian government has begun preparing assistance for affected families, including rent subsidies for people whose homes were destroyed.

The scale of the damage means the recovery process is likely to extend well beyond the immediate rescue operation.

Earthquake survivors may require medical treatment, temporary shelter, food, water and psychological support. Damaged schools, hospitals, homes and businesses will also need to be inspected before they can safely reopen.

The economic consequences could be significant for communities in western Colombia, particularly where buildings and commercial properties have suffered extensive damage.

The earthquake also presents a major logistical challenge because the most severely affected areas are spread across several departments with different levels of access to emergency infrastructure.

International assistance has begun to emerge.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States would provide $15.5m in emergency assistance to support Colombia’s response.

The US government has also recently strengthened its relationship with Colombia’s new administration, making the emergency assistance an important element of wider cooperation between the two countries.

For Colombia, however, the immediate priority remains the search for survivors.

Rescue workers are continuing to examine collapsed buildings and damaged structures, while authorities warn that the situation remains fluid and casualty figures could change as more information becomes available.

The latest death toll of at least 132 places the earthquake among Colombia’s most serious natural disasters in recent years. More than 570 people are now reported to have been injured, and the number of damaged buildings and homes continues to be assessed.

The earthquake has also highlighted the vulnerability of urban areas to powerful seismic events. Even buildings that survive the initial shaking can become dangerous if their structural integrity has been compromised.

Officials are therefore urging residents to resist the temptation to return home simply because the main tremor has ended.

As rescue operations continue, the country faces a race against time to locate anyone still trapped beneath rubble, treat those injured and provide shelter to families who have lost their homes.

The disaster has left western Colombia facing a long and difficult recovery, but the government’s emergency response, international assistance and the continuing efforts of rescue teams are now focused on one immediate objective: saving as many lives as possible.

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