Tuesday, August 11, 2026 - At least 132 people have been killed and more than 570 injured after a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, triggering widespread destruction and a major rescue operation.
The quake struck in the Chocó region at significant depth but was felt across large parts of the country. Buildings collapsed in several cities, while homes, hospitals and other critical infrastructure were damaged.
The disaster has hit cities including Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdó, with emergency crews searching damaged structures for survivors. Colombia has declared a state of emergency as authorities assess the scale of the destruction and work to restore essential services.
The situation remains dangerous as rescue teams continue operating in unstable areas and the possibility of further aftershocks adds to the urgency.
The immediate priority is saving lives, reaching people trapped under rubble and delivering medical assistance to affected communities. The earthquake has also exposed the urgent need to strengthen buildings, hospitals and other critical infrastructure against major seismic events.
As rescue operations continue, Colombia faces a race against time to support survivors, restore damaged services and prevent the disaster from becoming an even larger humanitarian crisis.
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