At least 224 people have died after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, the country's Public Ministry reported. The quake caused widespread destruction across several cities and prompted the newly sworn-in president, Abelardo de la Espriella, to declare a national disaster.
Epicenter and Scope
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake's epicenter was about 5 kilometers (roughly 3 miles) east of San José del Palmar. The tremor was widely felt across Colombia and was reported in neighboring countries including Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama. Colombia's Geological Survey said it is the strongest earthquake recorded in the country in a decade.
Joaquin Sarmiento/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: People look for survivors amid the rubble of a collapsed building after an earthquake in Cali, Colombia, Aug. 10, 2026.
Casualties, Injuries and Search Efforts
Officials said at least 572 people were injured across the affected areas. Alejandro Eder, mayor of Cali — Colombia’s second-largest city with more than 2.2 million residents — reported on social media that 95 of the fatalities occurred in Cali. He said approximately 86 people had been rescued there so far, while preliminary figures indicated about 239 people were believed to be trapped in debris and some 949 injured within the city.
"Today more than ever, we need to be united and help each other," Mayor Alejandro Eder wrote.
Rescue crews continued to search collapsed buildings for survivors. A hospital in Cali sustained severe damage, with one wing partially collapsing; officials said patients were being relocated to other facilities. Across the country, President De la Espriella reported that more than 1,600 homes had collapsed and dozens of health centers, community centers and roads had been damaged.
Jonh Bonilla/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Rubbles on a street are pictured after the earthquake in Manizales, Colombia, Aug. 10, 2026.
Government Response and International Aid
The U.S. State Department said a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) was scheduled to arrive in Colombia to support government operations, coordination and programming. The State Department also announced a pledge of $15.5 million in aid for emergency shelter, food, protection and earthquake assessments.
President De la Espriella posted a video saying he was traveling to Bogotá to coordinate the national emergency response and had convened a unified command post to manage operations in the hardest-hit regions, including the Coffee-Growers' Axis.
Local Measures and Disruption
To facilitate rescue work and public safety, Cali imposed a curfew from 8 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday. The governor of Chocó reported injuries and "severe damage" to buildings in the department capital of Quibdó. Seven airports suspended operations in Armenia, Cali, Manizales, Pereira, Quibdó, Buenaventura and Cartago. Officials said there were no reports of collapsed structures in the capital, Bogotá.
What To Know Now
- Rescue operations are ongoing in multiple locations where people are believed to be trapped.
- Authorities continue to assess damage to housing, hospitals and infrastructure.
- International assistance is being deployed to support search, shelter and relief efforts.
Sources: Colombia Public Ministry; U.S. Geological Survey; local officials and media reports.
