Colombia death toll rises to 69 after 7.4-magnitude earthquake

At least 69 people have died following a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday, 10 August 2026. The disaster has triggered widespread structural damage, trapped residents under debris, and prompted evacuations in the capital, Bogota. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the event at a depth of 107 kilometres, superseding initial reports from Colombia’s geological service which had estimated a magnitude of 6.6.

The highest concentration of fatalities was recorded in the Risaralda province, where Governor Juan Diego Patino reported 42 deaths to Caracol Television. Additional casualties occurred in the Valle del Cauca department, with 27 fatalities confirmed, and in the city of Manizales, where two people died. The epicentre was located in San Jose Del Palmar, a community in the Choco region approximately 400 kilometres west of Bogota.

In Pereira, Mayor Mauricio Salazar described the situation as critical after 18 people were killed and others remained trapped in collapsed buildings. The Colombian interior minister confirmed that more than 20 municipalities across the country were affected. In the capital, emergency sirens prompted residents to flee buildings, with some seen evacuating in their pajamas, while patients were evacuated from hospitals in Cali.

The tremor was also felt in neighbouring Ecuador and Panama, though damage in those regions was minimal. In Quibdo, the capital of the Choco province, the governor reported injuries and serious damage to buildings. In Manizales, the dome of the Cathedral partially collapsed, and in Cali, the mayor reported major damage to infrastructure.

Small earthquakes are common in central and western Colombia, but those above 6.0 magnitude are rare. The last significant event occurred in 1999, when a 6.2 magnitude quake near Armenia killed more than 1,100 people. Rescue operations are ongoing as authorities manage the aftermath of the disaster.