A strong earthquake of magnitude 7.4 shook Colombia on August 10, 2026, causing intense shaking in the capital Bogotá and several other cities in the country. The seismic event generated panic and led to warning sirens being activated in some locations, with reports of residents taking to the streets.
Intense vibration and first reports in the capital
Residents of Bogotá felt the ground shake strongly, according to reports from reporters present in the region and videos that quickly circulated on social media. The scare was great, with earthquake sirens activated in several parts of the Colombian capital, indicating the strength of the tremor.
More on this story: 7.4 earthquake in Colombia collapses buildings and leaves at least 47 dead
Mainshock impacts and location
The earthquake had its epicenter located in a land area in the western region of Colombia. The estimate is that the point of origin is approximately 230 kilometers from Bogotá and approximately 150 kilometers from Medellín and Cali, important urban centers in the country.
In the city of Manizales, one of the hardest hit, the dome of the Metropolitan Basilica Cathedral suffered serious damage. The first information indicated destruction of part of the historic structure due to the force of the telluric movement.
Discrepancies in initial earthquake data
Initially, records of the magnitude of the earthquake showed variations between international seismological agencies. A first notification indicated 7.1, which was later revised to 6.8 before being confirmed at 7.4.
The Colombian geological service, in turn, calculated the magnitude at 6.6. Furthermore, the exact depth of the tremor also had different information, with one agency indicating 107 kilometers and another indicating 99 kilometers deep.