Colombia Declares National Emergency After 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake on August 10, 2026

Key facts

• A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026, with its epicentre near San José del Palmar in Chocó province.
• The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the earthquake at a depth of 107 km.
• At least 111 people were killed and hundreds of buildings were damaged or collapsed across more than 20 municipalities.
• Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella declared an emergency and said he would visit the disaster zone.
• Colombia's Geological Service called the earthquake the strongest recorded in the country in the last decade.
• Two aftershocks of magnitudes 2.8 and 4.8 followed the main earthquake.
• Flights were suspended at airports in Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Pereira and other affected cities.
• The earthquake was felt in neighbouring Ecuador and Panama, with minimal damage reported there.
• Rescue teams were searching through collapsed buildings for survivors in Cali, Pereira and Manizales.