7.4 earthquake in Colombia leads to search for 179 dead on second day
Relief teams in Colombia intensified their work on August 11, 2026, the second of operations, in search of survivors and victims of the powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake. The earthquake, which occurred on August 10, 2026, resulted in 179 confirmed fatalities, hundreds of injured people and the destruction of several buildings.
In response to the catastrophe, President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national state of emergency, ensuring that the government is mobilized with all available resources to support affected communities and provide humanitarian assistance to the most affected areas.
Considered the most intense tremor to hit Colombia this century, the seismic event was recorded at 9:34 am Brasília time (7:34 am local time) by the Colombian and United States geological services. Its epicenter was located near San José del Palmar, in the western region of the country.
The initial hours following the earthquake were marked by scenes of panic in the region’s main cities. Thousands of citizens had to evacuate buildings that collapsed or suffered severe damage, according to reports from journalists present at the scene.
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In the city of Cali, which was among the hardest hit, local authorities confirmed the destruction of at least 20 structures, with individuals trapped under the rubble. The city’s main public hospital also suffered the loss of “70% of its infrastructure”, severely compromising care.
“We are carrying out all the necessary work to get people out alive. Many people came, with equipment, food, helping the firefighters, helping people”, reported Andrés Felipe Mejía, a rescue volunteer in Cali.
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In Pereira, capital of the department of Risaralda, Mayor Mauricio Salazar described the situation as “critical”, mentioning the existence of “many injured people” and others “trapped amid the rubble”. In Manizales, a neighboring city, one of the cathedral’s towers came loose due to the shaking.
Jaime Zuluaga, a 50-year-old administrator, commented on the destruction: “There are a lot of buildings with structural damage or damage to their facades. Right now, traffic is collapsed, people don’t want to go back to their homes for fear of another tremor.”
The capital, Bogotá, also felt the impact, with buildings being emptied and hundreds of people seeking refuge in the streets, while sirens sounded. Mayor Carlos Galán reported that, so far, only superficial cracks have been observed in some homes and buildings in the city.
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The Espriella government announced the sending of soldiers and military engineers from the Colombian Army to five states, considered the most affected, to assist in rescue and recovery efforts.
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Consequences of the 7.4 earthquake include hospital collapse and curfews in the country
The strong earthquake brought back the painful memory of the 1999 tragedy, when a highly intense tremor killed almost 1,200 people in the coffee growing region of Colombia.
In addition to the directly affected areas, the earthquake was noticed in neighboring nations, including the Ecuadorian capital Quito, several provinces in Panama and some locations in Venezuela and Brazil, demonstrating the vast extent of the impact.
In a gesture of international solidarity, leaders from countries such as Mexico, Chile and El Salvador offered assistance to Colombia. Israel also offered to help, in a period of reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
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The president of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, confirmed that the European bloc has activated its Copernicus satellite service with the aim of collaborating in rescue operations in Colombian territory.
Colombian singer Shakira, born in Barranquilla, expressed her solidarity through a message published on platform X, where she declared: “My heart is (…) with the families who are going through moments of anguish.”
The sports calendar has also undergone changes. Football matches that were scheduled for this week were postponed due to the earthquake, including two Colombia games for the Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana.
