Last updated: August 11, 2026 | 00:34 UTC
Major Developments We’re Following
- A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia at about 12:34 UTC on August 10, with the epicenter near San José del Palmar in Chocó.
- Extensive structural damage was reported in Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó and other areas, with rescue teams searching collapsed buildings.
- Colombia’s government declared a national state of emergency and said its priority was rescuing people trapped under rubble.
- Authorities reported a rapidly changing casualty toll as search-and-rescue teams continued working through damaged structures.
- Airports in several affected areas were closed or disrupted while authorities conducted safety assessments.
- Curfews and additional security deployments were announced in some cities following reports of possible looting concerns.
What We Know
- Magnitude: 7.4
- Time: Approximately 12:34 UTC on August 10, 2026.
- Location: Near San José del Palmar, Chocó, western Colombia.
- Depth: About 107 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
- The Colombian Geological Service described the earthquake as the strongest recorded in Colombia during the 21st century.
- The earthquake was felt across a large part of Colombia and in neighboring countries.
- Buildings collapsed or sustained serious structural damage in several cities.
- Rescue teams involving firefighters, police, military personnel and volunteers were deployed.
- By the evening of August 10, President Abelardo de la Espriella had announced a national state of emergency and cited a death toll of 111 people. Reuters noted that other reports had cited 132 deaths, but the origin of that higher figure was unclear at the time.
What We Don’t Know
- The full extent of structural damage remains unclear.
- The number of people still trapped beneath collapsed buildings has not been conclusively established.
- Assessments in remote parts of Chocó remain difficult.
- Casualty figures continue to change as rescuers reach damaged areas.
- The complete number of people displaced by the earthquake has not yet been established.
- The full extent of damage to hospitals, roads, airports and other critical infrastructure remains under assessment.
Public Safety Information
Authorities and emergency teams have urged residents to follow official instructions and remain clear of damaged structures.
People should rely on emergency guidance issued by Colombian authorities rather than unverified information circulating on social media.
🔄 LIVE UPDATES
12:34 UTC — Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Strikes Western Colombia
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia at approximately 12:34 UTC on August 10, according to seismic monitoring agencies. The epicenter was near San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of about 107 kilometers and was felt across a broad area of Colombia, with shaking also reported in neighboring countries.
13:00–15:00 UTC — Reports of Serious Damage Begin to Emerge
Initial assessments showed significant damage in several western and central Colombian cities, including Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdó.
Emergency authorities began assessing collapsed and damaged structures while rescue personnel were mobilized. Because communications and access were disrupted in some affected areas, the scale of the damage remained preliminary.
15:00 UTC — Rescue Operations Expand
Search-and-rescue teams began working at collapsed structures in the hardest-hit areas.
Police, firefighters, soldiers and civilian volunteers joined efforts to search for people who may have been trapped beneath debris. Authorities warned that assessments remained preliminary as emergency teams reached additional locations.
16:00 UTC — Damage Reported Across Several Cities
The earthquake caused extensive structural damage beyond the immediate epicentral area.
Reports documented collapsed or heavily damaged buildings in Cali and Pereira, while Manizales also reported damage to a historic cathedral. Authorities continued inspections of buildings and critical infrastructure.
17:00 UTC — Government Mobilizes National Emergency Response
President Abelardo de la Espriella announced a national state of emergency as the government mobilized resources for rescue and relief operations.
The president said the immediate priority was reaching people trapped beneath rubble and providing assistance to affected communities.
18:00 UTC — Casualty Assessments Continue
The number of confirmed deaths increased as emergency teams reached more affected areas.
Authorities continued compiling information from individual municipalities and departments, making the national casualty figure subject to revision. JournosNews is treating figures from individual authorities separately rather than combining them without attribution.
19:00 UTC — Rescue Teams Continue Searching Collapsed Buildings
Rescue workers and volunteers continued searching through debris in Cali and Pereira.
In Cali, firefighters reported rescuing people from a collapsed building, while other teams continued working at sites where people were believed to remain trapped.
20:00 UTC — Curfews Announced in Some Affected Cities
Authorities in Cali, Armenia and Manizales announced curfews as part of security measures following the earthquake.
Cali’s mayor said additional police and military personnel were being deployed amid concerns about possible looting. The national government also announced an additional deployment of security personnel to Cali.
21:00 UTC — Airports and Infrastructure Remain Under Assessment
Several airports in affected areas were closed or disrupted while authorities conducted safety inspections.
Emergency officials continued assessing roads, buildings, hospitals and other critical infrastructure damaged by the earthquake.
22:00 UTC — Search Efforts Continue Into the Night
Rescue operations continued after nightfall, with emergency workers using heavy equipment and manual tools to search damaged structures.
In Pereira, rescuers reported attempting to reach people believed to be trapped beneath debris. Similar operations continued in Cali and other affected locations.
23:00 UTC — Authorities Continue Updating Casualty Figures
The national government reported 111 confirmed deaths in its Monday assessment, while additional local reporting produced higher figures whose official basis was not immediately clear.
JournosNews is retaining the government-confirmed figure for this stage of the tracker and will distinguish subsequent official revisions from conflicting preliminary reports.
00:34 UTC — 12 Hours After the Earthquake
Twelve hours after the earthquake struck, search-and-rescue operations remained active across western Colombia.
Emergency teams were continuing to search collapsed buildings, while authorities worked to establish the full extent of casualties and damage. The situation remained fluid, particularly in Chocó and other areas where access and communications were difficult.
At this stage, the 111-death figure announced by the national government remained the appropriate nationally attributed figure for this 12-hour window. Later reports citing higher casualty totals should be treated as subsequent updates rather than retroactively inserted into the opening 12-hour chronology.
Emergency Response
Colombian emergency services, police, military personnel, firefighters and volunteers continued search-and-rescue operations in affected communities.
Rescue teams worked through collapsed buildings and damaged structures while authorities assessed hospitals, transportation infrastructure and other essential services.
Background
The earthquake struck near San José del Palmar in Chocó at an intermediate depth and was felt over a wide area.
The Colombian Geological Service characterized the event as the strongest earthquake recorded in Colombia during the 21st century.
Sources / References
- Colombian Geological Service (Servicio Geológico Colombiano)
- Colombian national emergency-management authorities
- Colombian government / Presidency
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Colombian Red Cross
- Reuters
- Associated Press
