Colombia Shaken by 7.4‑Magnitude Quake: 132 Dead and Emergency Declared

Sun Sep 06 2026 08:32:23 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A devastating earthquake rattles Colombia, killing 132 people, collapsing skyscrapers and prompting a national disaster declaration.

The 7.4‑magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on 10 August left at least 132 dead and hundreds of buildings collapsed. The epicentre was in Chocó province, but cities from Pereira to Cali and even Bogotá felt the tremor. President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national disaster, mobilising aid and budgets. International leaders offered assistance, while local authorities imposed curfews and start rescue operations.

Colombia Shaken by 7.4‑Magnitude Quake: 132 Dead and Emergency Declared

A powerful 7.4‑magnitude earthquake struck Colombia at 07:34 local time on 10 August, registering at a depth of 103 km (64 miles) on the geological seismometer. The tremor detonated across a vast expanse of western Colombia, from the dense rain‑forests of Chocó to the coffee‑harbour town of Pereira.

Unprecedented Casualties and Collapse

The official death toll now stands at 132, a figure that is expected to rise as rescue teams scour rubble and locate survivors. The majority of fatalities occurred in and around Pereira, while the cities of Cali, Manizales, Quibdó and Valle del Cauca sustained serious damage. In Pereira, 65 buildings collapsed and 15 appear to still be holding trapped occupants. A curtacúe remains in place until 05:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

Infrastructure in Ruins

Observations from the Ecuadorian-affiliated BBC video captured a collapsed plaza in Pereira’s main square, with remains of a cement building spilling across the open area. In Manizales, the witness account of Angélica Ávila describes cracks splintering walls and dust pouring from neighbouring structures. Airports across the country reported damage, prompting the national aviation authority to shift resources to search and rescue operations.

Collapsed building in Manizales during the 7.4 earthquake

Emergency Declaration and International Aid

Colombia’s newly‑installed President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared a national disaster situation, granting the government emergency powers to reallocate budgets and deploy resources to affected regions. Operating under these powers, the administration has announced that over 1,500 homes were heavily damaged or destroyed.

The United States, European Union and neighboring El Salvador have all offered support: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. is “closely monitoring” the disaster, the EU’s Copernicus satellite system is being used to map damage, and President Nayib Bukele has dispatched rescue teams and equipment to Colombian authorities.

A Broader Perspective

The quake's energy was largely concentrated underground, a depth that usually reduces immediate structural danger but can shatter buildings and result in the loss of life. At least 1.5 million people felt shaking that approached magnitude‑7, underscoring the widespread impact.

As Colombia enters a period of recovery and rebuilding, the event highlights the urgency of seismic‑resilient construction and rapid emergency coordination across Latin America.