Major Developments We’re Following

• A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck near San José del Palmar, Chocó, at 07:34 local time on August 10.
• Colombia’s Geological Service identified the earthquake as the strongest recorded in the country during the 21st century.
• National authorities activated emergency-response mechanisms and deployed urban search-and-rescue teams from Bogotá, Envigado, Yopal and Medellín.
• Damage was reported across Chocó, Caldas, Valle del Cauca, Risaralda and Quindío, with authorities conducting assessments in affected communities.
• Buildings collapsed in cities including Cali and Pereira, while damage was also reported in Manizales and Quibdó.
• By the end of the initial 12-hour window, rescue workers were continuing searches for people trapped beneath rubble.

What We Know

• Magnitude: 7.4
• Epicenter: San José del Palmar, Chocó
• Depth: 103 km according to Colombia’s Geological Service; the U.S. Geological Survey reported 107 km.
• Time: 07:34 local time / 12:34 UTC on August 10.
• The Colombian Geological Service said more than 12,000 people from about 900 population centers reported feeling the earthquake.
• The agency reported 18 aftershocks by noon local time, ranging from magnitude 1.4 to 4.8.
• The national government reported possible impacts in nine municipalities in Chocó, eight in Caldas, two in Valle del Cauca and two in Risaralda, as well as several municipalities in Quindío.
• Four urban search-and-rescue groups were activated from Bogotá, Envigado, Yopal and Medellín.
• Colombia’s president declared a national emergency and said the government’s first priority was rescuing people trapped beneath rubble.
• An initial government death toll of 111 was reported during the first day. Later casualty figures increased substantially, so the 111 figure should be treated as the preliminary national figure for this opening window rather than a final toll.

What We Don’t Know

• The full extent of damage across Chocó remains unclear.
• The final number of people killed or injured during the first 12 hours had not been established.
• The number of people trapped beneath collapsed structures remained uncertain.
• The total number of displaced residents had not been established.
• Assessments of roads, hospitals, airports and other critical infrastructure were still underway.
• Later casualty reports should not be retroactively inserted into this initial 12-hour chronology.

Public Safety Information

The Colombian Geological Service urged residents to rely on official information and noted that earthquake aftershocks can continue for days, weeks or longer. The agency also emphasized that earthquakes and their aftershocks cannot currently be predicted with a scientifically proven method.

Residents should follow instructions issued by Colombian emergency authorities and avoid damaged structures or areas where emergency operations are underway.

Live Updates

12:34 UTC — Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Strikes Western Colombia

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia at 07:34 local time, with the epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó. Colombia’s Geological Service later reported the depth at 103 kilometers.

The U.S. Geological Survey independently reported a magnitude of 7.4 and a depth of 107 kilometers. The difference in depth reflects the measurements reported by the respective agencies.

13:00 UTC — Earthquake Felt Across Multiple Regions

Reports of the earthquake spread across western and central Colombia after the main shock.

The Colombian Geological Service said more than 12,000 people from approximately 900 population centers had reported feeling the earthquake. Reports also indicated that shaking was felt in Panama and Venezuela.

14:00 UTC — Geological Service Reports Aftershocks

Colombia’s Geological Service reported 18 aftershocks by noon local time, with magnitudes ranging from 1.4 to 4.8.

The agency said the aftershocks were located around San José del Palmar and Sipí in Chocó and warned that additional aftershocks could occur.

15:00 UTC — Emergency Assessment Expands Across Five Departments

Colombia’s national disaster-management authority said preliminary reports indicated possible impacts in nine municipalities in Chocó, eight in Caldas, two in Valle del Cauca and two in Risaralda, along with several municipalities in Quindío.

Authorities were still verifying damage to communities, homes and infrastructure, meaning the assessment remained preliminary.

16:13 UTC — National Search-and-Rescue Response Activated

The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said the government had activated four urban search-and-rescue groups from Bogotá, Envigado, Yopal and Medellín.

Bogotá also offered specialized rescue equipment, while Antioquia made aircraft available to support operations if required. The national crisis room remained active as information was consolidated from affected territories.

17:00 UTC — Damage Reported in Major Western Cities

Reports from affected cities showed significant structural damage in Cali, Pereira and Manizales.

Reuters reported that a four-story building collapsed in Pereira and that part of Manizales’ landmark neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed. Emergency teams were searching damaged structures for survivors.

18:00 UTC — Airports Suspended Operations for Inspections

Colombia’s civil aviation authorities suspended operations at several regional airports, including Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura, while engineers assessed infrastructure.

The closures were part of safety inspections following the earthquake and should not be interpreted as permanent airport closures.

19:00 UTC — Government Declares National Emergency

President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national state of emergency as the government expanded its response.

The president said the immediate priority was rescuing people trapped beneath rubble and providing assistance to affected communities.

20:00 UTC — Rescue Operations Continue in Cali and Pereira

Rescue workers and volunteers continued searching collapsed buildings in Cali and Pereira.

Reuters reported that firefighters in Cali had rescued two adult women and two children from a collapsed building, while other rescuers continued searching for additional survivors.

21:00 UTC — Local Authorities Introduce Security Measures

Authorities in Cali, Armenia and Manizales announced curfews as emergency operations continued.

Cali’s mayor said additional police and military personnel were being deployed amid concerns about looting, while the national government announced plans to send additional security personnel to the city.

22:00 UTC — Initial National Death Toll Reaches 111

President de la Espriella reported an initial national death toll of 111 as authorities continued assessing the disaster.

The government figure was preliminary. Reuters reported that some local media were citing a higher national figure, but the origin of that higher number was unclear at the time. JournosNews therefore retains 111 as the attributed national figure for this stage rather than combining conflicting reports.

23:00 UTC — Rescue Teams Work Into the Night

As darkness fell, rescue workers and volunteers continued searching damaged structures with headlamps and other equipment.

Reuters reported that teams were working through rubble in Cali and other affected areas, while emergency operations continued in Pereira and elsewhere.

00:34 UTC — First 12 Hours: Search-and-Rescue Operations Continue

Twelve hours after the earthquake, emergency teams remained engaged in search-and-rescue operations across western Colombia.

Authorities were continuing to consolidate reports from affected municipalities while assessing casualties, structural damage and infrastructure disruptions. The Colombian Geological Service continued monitoring seismic activity and aftershocks.

The initial national death toll of 111 remained the appropriate figure for this opening 12-hour chronology because it was the figure publicly announced by the national government during the period. Subsequent increases in the death toll belong to later updates and should not be backdated into this section.

Emergency Response

Colombia’s national disaster-management system remained active through a national crisis room coordinated by the UNGRD.

Urban search-and-rescue teams from Bogotá, Envigado, Yopal and Medellín were activated, while Bogotá offered specialized rescue equipment and Antioquia offered aircraft support. Local authorities continued verifying damage and determining priority needs.

The Colombian Red Cross also activated its response, with volunteers involved in search-and-rescue and damage-assessment activities.

Background

The Colombian Geological Service said the magnitude 7.4 earthquake was the strongest earthquake recorded in Colombia during the 21st century.

The agency said the earthquake occurred in a region where the Nazca Plate subducts beneath the South American Plate, a process associated with seismic activity.

The SGC also explicitly said the earthquake was not related to activity at the Puracé volcano, addressing claims circulating on social media.

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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

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The earthquake affected several cities, including Cali, Pereira, Quibdó and Manizales, and was felt in neighboring Ecuador and Panama. The U.S. Geological Survey placed the epicenter about 5 kilometers east of San José del Palmar in the Chocó region, roughly 400 kilometers west of Bogotá, at a depth of about 107 kilometers.

The disaster has created a major search-and-rescue and humanitarian challenge, particularly in Chocó, where mountainous terrain, dense jungle and limited transportation infrastructure can make access difficult. Communications outages in parts of the region have also complicated efforts to assess the full extent of the damage.

Rescue operations continue in damaged cities

In Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, residents and rescue workers searched through collapsed structures, moving concrete and debris through lines of volunteers.

The city’s local government said people remained trapped in some of the 380 buildings reported damaged. Families also began registering missing relatives through digital databases, with one database listing more than 1,400 people by Monday afternoon, primarily from Cali and Pereira.

Local authorities reported at least 40 deaths in Risaralda, where Pereira is located, and 27 in Valle del Cauca, where Cali is located, including three children. Nine deaths were reported in Chocó, two in Caldas and one involving a 73-year-old person in Antioquia. The locations of the remaining 32 deaths were not immediately clear.

The continuing search for missing people means the casualty figures could change as emergency crews gain access to damaged buildings and isolated communities.

Remote Chocó region complicates assessment

The earthquake’s epicenter was near San José del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the mountainous Chocó region. The area is among Colombia’s poorer regions and includes communities that can be reached only by boat or aircraft.

Authorities reported injuries and structural damage in Chocó but had limited information about the broader impact. Phone service was unavailable in parts of Quibdó, the regional capital, further restricting communication with affected communities.

San José del Palmar has no airport and sits along a mountain ridge on the highway connecting Cali and Pereira. The geography and limited infrastructure could make it difficult for emergency agencies to reach some communities and establish the full scale of the disaster.

Colombia’s Geological Service said the earthquake was the country’s strongest recorded in the 21st century. The quake was followed by 21 smaller aftershocks, according to the agency.

The epicenter lies within Colombia’s Pacific region, part of the broader Pacific Ring of Fire, where seismic activity is common. Earthquakes above magnitude 6 are comparatively rare in central and western Colombia.

Damage reported across major cities

Cali suffered widespread structural damage as buildings collapsed and residents moved into the streets. Rescue workers continued searching rubble for people who may have been trapped.

Pereira, in Colombia’s coffee-producing region, also reported extensive damage. Local media footage showed parts of the airport ceiling falling as travelers sought shelter, while collapsed stores, homes and residential buildings were reported across the city.

Pereira Mayor Mauricio Salazar told local radio that at least 15 buildings had collapsed and that people were feared trapped inside.

In Manizales, one of the towers of the city’s neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed onto the nave. Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas urged residents to remain outside because of the possibility of additional shaking.

Authorities suspended flights at airports in Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura and Pereira while damage assessments were carried out.

The earthquake was also felt outside Colombia, including in Ecuador and Panama, extending the reach of the seismic event beyond the areas where the most severe damage was reported.

International assistance offered after quake

The earthquake came shortly after de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia’s president, making the disaster one of the first major tests of his administration’s emergency response.

The president said he had taken personal charge of the government’s response as authorities coordinated search-and-rescue operations, medical assistance, emergency support and recovery funding.

The United States announced $15.5 million in emergency assistance for shelter, food and other earthquake-response needs, according to the U.S. State Department. Governments across Latin America also offered assistance.

The international response could become increasingly important if additional casualties are discovered or if isolated communities remain cut off from government services.

For now, rescue teams are continuing to search damaged structures while authorities assess infrastructure, restore communications and determine the needs of affected communities. The number of missing people and the condition of remote areas remain among the key uncertainties as Colombia’s emergency response continues.

This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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The Colombian army said two dissident groups from the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, carried out the attack. The groups rejected the peace agreement that the FARC signed with the government a decade ago.

The blast hit a toll plaza on the Pan-American Highway, the main road through the country’s southwest. Two security guards suffered minor injuries, according to the army.

One of the guards told authorities that a person abandoned the vehicle at the toll plaza and fled on a motorcycle.

The road connects the departments of Cauca and Valle del Cauca. Cali, the capital of Valle del Cauca, hosted de la Espriella’s inauguration on Friday.

During his inaugural speech, the new president outlined a tougher security policy. He warned illegal armed groups that they had two choices: submit to the rule of law or confront government security forces.

After the bombing, soldiers secured the toll plaza and used trained dogs to search for other explosives, the army said. Pieces of the vehicle, including its burned chassis, remained scattered around the site.

The blast also shook nearby homes. Elizabeth Zapata, 57, said the explosion woke her family and shattered their windows. She said relatives who live with several children arrived with pieces of broken glass embedded in their backs.

Cauca Gov. Jorge Octavio Guzmán said the attack appeared aimed at isolating the department and helping armed groups maintain control over thousands of hectares.

“This is not an isolated incident; it is systematic,” Guzmán told reporters.

Transportation Minister Elsa Noguera condemned the bombing. She said authorities were working to restore traffic along the highway.

“Colombia will not kneel before violence, nor will it allow the destruction of the infrastructure that connects our regions,” Noguera wrote on social media.

Government transfers 117 prisoners to maximum-security facilities

Meanwhile, de la Espriella announced the transfer of 117 prisoners linked to peace talks under the previous administration.

The prisoners were moved to eight maximum-security prisons, according to Colombia’s corrections agency. Officials said the measure aims to restore permanent control of the prisons and prevent criminal organizations from coordinating illegal activities from inside them.

De la Espriella has rejected the dialogue with armed groups pursued by his predecessor, Gustavo Petro.

The 48-year-old president had no previous political experience. He is a lawyer and businessperson who narrowly defeated progressive senator Iván Cepeda in a June runoff election.

Cepeda was an ally of Petro, whose government had promoted negotiations with armed groups.

The election took place in a deeply polarized political climate. Petro refused to recognize de la Espriella’s victory and alleged electoral fraud, despite the electoral authority’s official declaration of the result and a positive assessment from international observers.

The bombing now presents an early security challenge for de la Espriella’s government as it seeks to confront armed groups and strengthen state control in parts of the country.

This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press

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