7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia, dozens dead. State of emergency declared

A powerful one earthquake shook the Colombia and other countriesLatin America, causing the buildings to shake Bogota and others Quito, in Ecuador. The Colombian Geological Service he estimated the earthquake magnitude at 6.6, while its American counterpart, theUSGS, a 7.4, with epicenter at 100 km depth in the Western Colombia. The shock was warned until Panama, to the north, and led toevacuation of some buildings in Bogota.

The earthquake, according to the Colombian Geological Survey (SGC), had epicenter near the city of San José del Palmar, in the Chocò department, located in the Pacific region, although the coffee-producing region in the center of the country has been one of the areas most affected by the earthquake.

Dozens dead in western Colombia

They are registered so far at least 77 dead and several buildings collapsed after the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia. The earthquake caused serious damage to buildings and led to the evacuation of even a lot of localities as distant from the epicentre as Bogota. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said he would personally supervise the rescue operations. The earthquake was also felt in neighboring Ecuador.

The ‘coffee region’ devastated

The highest number of victims was recorded nthe department of Risaralda, where there were at least 40 deaths. The capital of the department is Pereira. Two more deaths were reported in Manizales, a city which, like Pereira, is part of the tourist “coffee region”. In the Valle del Cauca department, of which Calì is the capital, the authorities have so far recorded 27 deaths.

Victims and collapses in Pererira, Manizales and Calì

The mayor of Manizales also reported that between 20 and 30 houses collapsed in the city, in addition to several churches damaged by the earthquake. The mayor’s office has already opened three shelters in different areas of the city. Also in Calì at least 20 large civil structures collapsed with the earthquake. There are people trapped under the rubble.

The affected areas

A powerful earthquake has struck Colombia and was distinctly felt in major cities such as Bogota e Cali, causing a unknown number of injuries and damage to buildings in the west of the country, according to what the authorities reported.

Property damage in the central Colombian coffee-producing region includes partial collapse of the roof of the international airport of Matecana in Pereira, which remains closed, as well as the airports of Manizales and Armenia, in the same region, according to the aviation authority. Also churches and cathedrals suffered damage.

Part of the church of San José, in Pereira, collapsed during the strong earthquake. Videos captured the breakdown of the structure of the street while residents evacuate the area.
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— Quantum Pulse Media (@quantumpulsehq) August 10, 2026

Videos released after the earthquake show thecentral part of the spire of the church of San José de Pereira which breaks away, while several people in the street cling to a police motorbike and other objects, shaken by the shock, amid the chaos and confusion. Another video, shot in Pereira, shows part of the facade of a hotel which collapses, while the person filming assures that the people inside are “fine”.

Flights suspended at 6 airports

At least six Colombian airports suffered damage due to the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that shook much of the country, with serious repercussions in several cities in the west and centre, as reported by theAuthority for Civil Aviation (Aerocivil).

“The airports of Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo’, Armenia, Cartago e Buenaventura they were hit. For security reasons, the Flight operations at these terminals remain suspended until structural damage to infrastructure can be assessed,” Aerocivil said in a press release.

The situation in Bogota

The president Abelardo de la Espriella has announced that he will travel to Coffee Region to evaluate the situation. “I will personally be at Pereira to give support to those affected and verify the government’s response,” said De la Espriella, who assumed the presidency on Friday.

A Bogota, the buildings were evacuated. Several people in pajamas poured into the streets to the sound of sirens. “The earthquake was extremely strong,” said Valeria Polo, a 29-year-old content creator from the city center. The mayor Carlos Galan he told Blu Radio that they were only reported superficial cracks in some homes and buildings.

Shock felt in Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela: tsunami warning excluded

The earthquake was also felt in neighboring countries. It was perceived in the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, and in several provinces of Panama, where some hospitals were evacuated, as well as in some regions of Venezuela. Panamanian authorities are assessing damage in the border region of Darien, in the jungle.

On June 24, a double earthquake of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 caused over 6,000 deaths and extensive damage in Venezuela. The Emergency Management Agency has excluding the tsunami warning.

Finally, the Israeli Foreign Minister offered assistance to Colombiafollowing the resumption of diplomatic relations following the rise to power of the far-right leader De la Espriella.