Colombia Quake Death Toll Hits 132 as Rescuers Search Ruins

A massive earthquake—a magnitude 7.4—hit western Colombia early on August 10, 2026. It was the most powerful one the country’s seen this century. The shaking started near San José del Palmar, deep in the Chocó department, around 7:34 in the morning. People across western Colombia felt it, and even folks in Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama reported tremors.

The devastation was worst in Pereira and Cali. In Pereira, at least 40 people died. Dozens of buildings just crumbled, trapping neighbors under collapsed concrete and steel. In Cali, several structures went down too, including part of a hospital—doctors had to treat patients out on the street. All across Colombia, more than 1,500 buildings and homes ended up damaged or destroyed.

Rescue crews—firefighters, soldiers, regular people—kept searching through the rubble well into the next day. Every so often, they’d stop everything and just listen for sounds beneath the debris, hoping to catch a voice or tapping. They managed to save survivors, including women and children, but there were still others trapped. More than 2,700 people are listed as missing, according to citizen apps, though not all of those cases are confirmed.

President Abelardo de la Espriella, just days into his new job, declared a national emergency right away. He toured the worst-hit spots, set up rental help for people who’d lost their homes, and pushed through emergency funding and evacuations. Officials put nighttime curfews in place in cities like Cali and Pereira to stop looting and let rescue teams do their work safely. Airports in the region shut down to check for damage before letting flights continue.

The ground kept shaking with aftershocks, and authorities are bracing for worse numbers as teams reach outlying towns. The international community didn’t hesitate—over $15 million in emergency aid came in for food, shelters, and supplies, plus rescue teams and doctors from other countries.

People caught in the quake described utter chaos—buildings rattling, debris tumbling down, crowds scrambling into open spaces. Now, lots of residents are choosing to sleep outside, too anxious to head back inside, especially with the aftershocks. Rescue crews are focused on whoever might still be alive, trapped under all that wreckage.