Colombia Earthquake: Death Toll Rises to 164 After 7.4-Magnitude Quake

By Mateo Rodríguez | Colombia Correspondent | Updated August 11, 2026

UPDATE: The death toll from the powerful Colombia earthquake has risen to at least 164 people, according to the latest Reuters report, as rescue teams continue searching collapsed buildings and damaged homes across western Colombia. The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck on Monday and caused widespread destruction in cities including Cali, Pereira and Manizales. Rescue operations are continuing, and officials expect the casualty figure could rise as teams reach more affected areas.

Reuters reported that at least 85 people have died in Cali, 66 in Pereira and another 13 in Chocó near the earthquake’s epicenter. Emergency workers, soldiers, police officers, engineers and volunteers have continued working through damaged areas in an effort to find survivors and recover victims.

More than 2,700 people had also been reported missing through citizen-run databases, although that figure should not be treated as a confirmed official missing-person total. Communication failures, damaged infrastructure and families being unable to contact relatives have complicated efforts to establish the true number of people still unaccounted for.

What Happened in Colombia?

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia struck western Colombia on August 10, causing severe shaking across a large part of the country. The earthquake was centered near San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó, according to seismic monitoring information cited in initial reports.

The earthquake struck Colombia’s coffee-growing region early Monday, sending residents running from buildings and leaving significant damage across several cities.

Cali, Pereira, Quibdó and Manizales were among the areas heavily affected. Buildings collapsed or were badly damaged, roads and other infrastructure were disrupted, and emergency crews moved into areas where people were believed to be trapped.

The earthquake was also felt far beyond the immediate epicentral region. Residents in Bogotá reported feeling the shaking, while tremors were felt in neighboring countries including Ecuador, Venezuela and Panama.

How Strong Was the Colombia Earthquake?

The Colombia earthquake today measured magnitude 7.4, making it a major earthquake capable of producing powerful shaking and serious structural damage.

Magnitude measures the energy released by an earthquake at its source. However, the amount of damage experienced in a particular location depends on several factors, including the earthquake’s depth, distance from the epicenter, local ground conditions and the strength of buildings.

The earthquake’s significant magnitude allowed strong shaking to spread across a broad area of western Colombia. In urban centers, the combination of strong ground motion and vulnerable structures contributed to building collapses and other damage.

Colombia is located in a seismically active part of South America, where several tectonic plates interact. Earthquakes are therefore a recurring natural hazard, although events of this size are far less common.

Where Was the Earthquake’s Epicenter?

The Colombia earthquake epicenter was reported near San José del Palmar in Chocó, a department in western Colombia.

The location is important because Chocó includes mountainous and remote communities where transportation and emergency access can be difficult. Damaged roads, difficult terrain and limited infrastructure can slow the movement of rescue equipment and emergency personnel.

The earthquake’s effects, however, extended well beyond the epicenter. Cali, Pereira, Quibdó and Manizales experienced significant shaking and damage, while residents much farther away also reported feeling the earthquake.

For people searching for the earthquake time in Colombia, the event occurred at about 12:34 UTC on August 10, which corresponds to approximately 7:34 a.m. local time in Colombia.

What Is the Latest Colombia Earthquake Death Toll?

The latest Colombia earthquake death toll has reached at least 164 people, according to Reuters reporting on Tuesday.

The toll has increased substantially since the first reports on Monday as rescue teams gained access to damaged areas and authorities identified additional victims.

Reuters reported that Cali has recorded at least 85 deaths, making it the hardest-hit city by the latest count. Pereira has reported 66 deaths, while 13 additional deaths were reported in Chocó near the earthquake’s epicenter.

The figures remain part of a developing disaster response. Search teams are still working through collapsed buildings and damaged structures, meaning the death toll could change as authorities complete their assessments.

For that reason, readers should treat casualty figures as provisional unless they have been confirmed by Colombian authorities or multiple reliable news organizations.

How Many People Are Missing?

More than 2,700 people have been reported missing through citizen-run databases and other efforts to reconnect families, according to reporting on the disaster.

However, this figure should not be interpreted as a confirmed official missing-person total.

Large disasters can create temporary spikes in missing-person reports because phone networks fail, electricity is interrupted, transportation is disrupted and families can lose contact with people in affected areas.

Some people listed as missing may later contact relatives or emergency officials. Others may have moved to shelters or hospitals without their families immediately knowing where they are.

Authorities therefore need time to verify individual cases, remove duplicate reports and determine how many people remain genuinely unaccounted for.

Which Cities and Areas Were Affected?

The earthquake caused widespread damage across western Colombia, with Cali, Pereira, Manizales and areas of Chocó among the hardest-hit locations.

Cali has emerged as one of the most severely affected cities. Reuters reported at least 85 deaths there, while multiple buildings were destroyed or left structurally unsafe. Damage also affected hospital facilities, forcing some patients and medical operations to be moved outside damaged structures.

Pereira has also suffered extensive damage. Reuters reported at least 66 deaths in the city, while buildings and infrastructure were damaged and rescue operations continued.

Manizales experienced significant structural damage, including damage to a historic cathedral. Residents gathered outside buildings following the shaking because of concerns about structural safety.

Chocó, located near the epicenter, presents additional challenges because some communities are remote and difficult to reach. Reuters reported 13 deaths in the department as emergency teams continued assessing the impact.

Several airports in western Colombia also faced temporary disruptions as engineers inspected facilities for earthquake damage.

What Are Rescue Teams Doing?

Search-and-rescue operations continued into a second day on Tuesday as emergency workers searched collapsed buildings and damaged homes for survivors.

Police officers, soldiers, rescue specialists, engineers and volunteers have been working together in affected communities. Heavy equipment has been brought into areas where rubble cannot safely be removed by hand.

Rescue workers have also used search dogs and other specialized equipment to identify possible survivors beneath debris.

In some locations, residents have joined emergency workers by helping remove rubble and assisting neighbors who were trapped or injured.

The response has been particularly difficult in rural parts of Chocó, where poor road access and difficult terrain can slow the arrival of heavy equipment and medical assistance.

Reuters reported that the Colombian government has also deployed additional security personnel to affected cities amid concerns about looting and public safety.

Are More Aftershocks Expected?

Aftershocks are common following a major earthquake. They occur as the Earth’s crust adjusts after the main earthquake and can continue for hours, days or longer.

Some aftershocks can be strong enough to damage buildings that were already weakened by the main earthquake.

Multiple aftershocks have been reported following the main Colombia earthquake, adding another challenge for residents and emergency crews.

Scientists can monitor seismic activity and identify aftershock patterns, but they cannot precisely predict the exact time or strength of a future aftershock.

People in affected areas should therefore follow instructions from local authorities and avoid entering visibly damaged buildings until they have been inspected and declared safe.

Why Has the Colombia Earthquake Become a National Emergency?

The earthquake has become a major national emergency because of its magnitude, the geographic spread of the damage and the number of populated areas affected.

The disaster has also created different challenges across urban and rural communities. Large cities have access to more emergency resources, while remote communities in Chocó can be much harder to reach.

Damage to roads, airports, hospitals and other infrastructure can further complicate the movement of rescuers and medical supplies.

The timing of the earthquake has also created a major test for Colombia’s newly inaugurated government, which must coordinate rescue operations while authorities assess the scale of the destruction.

What Authorities Are Saying

Colombian authorities have prioritized search-and-rescue operations and the protection of people affected by the earthquake.

The government has mobilized military, police and emergency resources as rescue teams work through damaged areas.

Officials are also assessing structural damage and coordinating information from cities and departments across western Colombia.

Because casualty figures are being collected from different locations, numbers can change as local authorities verify reports and emergency teams reach previously inaccessible areas.

This is especially important for the death toll and missing-person figures. Early disaster estimates can change rapidly as search operations continue.

What We Know and What Remains Unconfirmed

Several major facts about the earthquake are now established, while other details remain subject to verification.

• A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026.
• The epicenter was reported near San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó.
• The latest Reuters report puts the death toll at at least 164.
• Cali has reported at least 85 deaths, while Pereira has reported 66 and Chocó 13.
• More than 2,700 people had been reported missing through citizen-run databases, but this is not a confirmed official missing-person total.
• About 1,600 buildings were reported damaged or collapsed in early assessments.
• Search-and-rescue operations remain underway.
• Aftershocks have followed the main earthquake.

Other details remain uncertain. The final death toll, the verified number of missing people, the full extent of structural damage and the eventual economic cost of the disaster are not yet known.

Authorities are expected to revise casualty and damage figures as rescue teams reach more affected communities.

What Happens Next?

The immediate priority remains search and rescue. Emergency teams will continue checking collapsed buildings and damaged structures while looking for survivors and recovering victims.

The next stage will focus increasingly on infrastructure inspections. Engineers will need to examine roads, bridges, hospitals, airports, schools, public buildings and other critical facilities before normal services can fully resume.

Officials will also continue monitoring aftershocks because additional seismic activity could create new hazards in buildings that were already weakened by the main earthquake.

Authorities will need to verify the number of victims and missing people. That process can take time, especially in rural areas where communications and transportation have been disrupted.

As the emergency phase develops, attention will gradually shift toward temporary housing, repairs, infrastructure restoration and longer-term recovery for communities that suffered major damage.

Conclusion

The Colombia earthquake has killed at least 164 people after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10.

Cali, Pereira and Chocó have suffered some of the heaviest losses, while rescue teams continue working through collapsed buildings and damaged neighborhoods.

The number of people reported missing remains provisional, with more than 2,700 reports recorded through citizen-run databases. That figure should not be treated as a confirmed official missing-person count until authorities complete their verification.

The disaster remains a developing story. As rescue teams reach more affected communities, officials are expected to provide additional information about deaths, injuries, missing people, structural damage and the recovery effort.

For now, the priority remains finding survivors, helping injured residents and making damaged areas safe while Colombia assesses the full impact of one of its most powerful recent earthquakes.

Sources:

• Reuters
• Associated Press
• U.S. Geological Survey
• Colombian Geological Service
• Colombian emergency authorities