On August 10, 2026, at 7:34 a.m., a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, with its epicenter about 5 km south of San José del Palmar, in the Chocó department.
The death toll from the earthquake in Colombia has risen to 254, while, according to government reports, 48 buildings collapsed, 8,357 homes were damaged, 807 schools and 85 health centers suffered damage, and 377 community centers were affected.
Rescuers were working against the clock, as rescue operations are crucial in the first 72 hours after a disaster. They have until Thursday to find people alive under the rubble. Rescue equipment in some of the hardest-hit cities continued digging through the debris on Wednesday, hoping to locate more trapped people, since the longer the search goes on, the lower the chances of finding survivors generally are.
The number of injured has risen to 2,500, and thousands remain missing. Approximately 140 deaths have been reported in Pereira and 115 in Cali, two of the cities hardest hit by the earthquake.
President Abelardo de la Espriella declared three days of national mourning for the victims on Wednesday. National flags will fly at half-staff on public buildings and Colombian diplomatic missions abroad during the mourning period. It has been described as the most devastating earthquake to hit Colombia this century.
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