Powerful earthquake strikes western Colombia
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, 10 August 2026, at approximately 7:34 a.m., with its epicentre near San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó. A second earthquake, measuring 4.8 magnitude, followed less than an hour later. The first tremor occurred at a depth of around 98 kilometres, while the second was recorded at approximately 88 kilometres. The earthquakes were felt across a wide area, including Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Pereira and Manizales, sending residents into the streets and triggering emergency assessments across several cities.
The strongest impacts were reported in Pereira, Manizales and Cali, where authorities began inspecting buildings and infrastructure for structural damage. Several airports temporarily suspended or restricted operations while safety checks were carried out, while emergency services were placed on alert for possible aftershocks and additional casualties. Colombia’s newly inaugurated president, Abelardo de la Espriella, instructed national and local authorities to coordinate the response, with a unified command established in San José del Palmar. Officials continued assessing damaged buildings and infrastructure throughout the day as information about the scale of the disaster developed.
The earthquake has drawn renewed attention to Colombia’s exposure to seismic activity, particularly in the country’s western region, where complex tectonic conditions can generate powerful earthquakes. Emergency authorities are continuing inspections of buildings, roads and public infrastructure while monitoring for further seismic activity. The event has also generated widespread public concern because the shaking was felt far beyond the immediate epicentral area. Photo: The original Latin America Reports article contains earthquake and aftermath imagery, including a photograph credited to Luis Miguel Lopez via X. View the original report and photographs.
