Colombia declares national disaster as earthquake death toll climbs
President Abelardo de la Espriella invokes special powers to reallocate budgets as rescue operations continue in Chocó and Pereira, with structural failures reported across multiple municipalities.
Colombia has declared a national disaster situation following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the western region on 11 August 2026. The seismic event, centred near San José del Palmar in Chocó province, has triggered a significant governance response from the new administration, with President Abelardo de la Espriella invoking special powers to reallocate budgets and coordinate the emergency response.
Rescue operations across western Colombia carried into a second day on Tuesday as emergency workers dug through collapsed buildings and flattened homes. Authorities expect the death toll from the country's most powerful earthquake in decades to rise, with the current count standing at 132 fatalities and more than 480 injuries reported.
Structural failure has been most acute in Pereira, located approximately 55km from the epicentre. Local authorities report 40 deaths in the metropolitan area, with 65 buildings collapsed and 15 containing trapped individuals. A curfew has been imposed in parts of the city until 05:00 local time on Tuesday to facilitate rescue operations.
Similar devastation was recorded in Cali, where 32 buildings collapsed. The United States Geological Survey recorded the tremor at a depth of 107km, correcting initial reports from local authorities regarding the earthquake's depth. The event has prompted a coordinated effort across multiple municipalities to address the widespread infrastructure damage.
The invocation of special powers by President de la Espriella allows for the rapid reallocation of state resources to the affected areas. This administrative measure underscores the severity of the crisis and the government's intent to centralise the recovery effort in the wake of the disaster.
