Disasters & Incidents
Colombia earthquake death toll reaches at least 240
At least 240 people have died after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on Monday morning, with Pereira among the cities hardest hit as rescuers and residents searched collapsed buildings for survivors.
In Pereira, hundreds of volunteers and rescuers worked through rubble. Residents returned to damaged homes by daybreak to recover belongings before more collapses. Water and some food were running short in supermarkets and shops, almost all of the city was without electricity and mobile service was patchy.
The quake left streets littered with glass and brick, crushed cars and hanging power lines. Hundreds of homes had collapsed or were cracked, and some families slept outside because they feared remaining buildings were unsafe.
Jorge Gonzalez searched with his bare hands for his 87-year-old aunt under the ruins of a four-story building in Pereira. Street vendor Maribel Verano was searching for her missing mother and sister, who had been in a small hotel that collapsed in a commercial area of the city.
Geologists recorded the quake with an epicentre about 100 kilometres deep in western Colombia. The quake was also felt in Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela and prompted building evacuations in Bogota. Officials said they did not fear a tsunami.
Earlier official accounts reported serious damage in Quibdo, collapsed buildings and trapped people in Cali, and suspended operations at six small airports in western Colombia. President Abelardo de la Espriella said he would travel to the quake-hit region.
Update
The earthquake death toll is now at least 240.
Pereira is described as one of the cities hardest hit by the quake.
Residents in Pereira reported collapsed and cracked homes, crushed cars, hanging power lines and damaged streets.
Water and some food were running short in shops, almost all of Pereira was without electricity and mobile service was patchy.
Rescuers and volunteers were searching rubble for possible survivors.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 August 2026 at 19:29:40 UTC.
Update
At least 18 people were confirmed dead in Pereira, according to Mayor Mauricio Salazar.
Emergency teams were searching rubble for survivors after buildings collapsed.
Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder reported at least 20 collapsed buildings and trapped people.
Officials said they did not fear a tsunami.
President Abelardo de la Espriella said he would travel to the quake-hit region.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 August 2026 at 15:06:44 UTC.
Update
Six airports in Colombia suspended operations after the major earthquake.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 August 2026 at 14:14:40 UTC.
Update
The governor of Colombia's Choco province said there were injuries and serious building damage in Quibdo.
Cali's mayor reported major damage.
News outlets showed footage of some buildings with facades ripped off.
AFP reporters saw people in Bogota run into the street as emergency sirens sounded.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 August 2026 at 13:47:55 UTC.
Update
The Colombian geological service put the earthquake at magnitude 6.6, while the USGS put it at 7.4.
The epicenter was reported 100 km underground in western Colombia.
Buildings shook in Bogota and Quito, Ecuador.
The quake was felt as far north as Panama.
Building evacuations were prompted in Bogota.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 August 2026 at 13:12:14 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The supplied material does not give a full national breakdown of the death toll by city or province.
The number of missing people in Pereira is not stated.
Some damage and trapped-person reports from other cities were preliminary in the earlier candidate.
Source
AFP news report published on .