A woman prays as people gather outside a building following an earthquake in Bogota, Colombia, August 10, 2026. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez.
At least 20 dead in Colombia's 7.4 magnitude earthquake
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Quake injures people and damages buildings.
- Tremors felt in Bogotá and Venezuela.
- Quibdó reports significant structural damage.
The death toll after a strong earthquake that rocked western Colombia on Monday has risen to at least 20, authorities said.
In the town of Pereira, 18 people were killed and others were trapped in buildings that collapsed, Mayor Mauricio Salazar told Caracol Radio.
A strong morning earthquake struck the Pacific province of Chocó in Colombia on Monday, causing injuries and significant structural damage, according to the provincial governor.
The quake was felt broadly across the region, with tremors reported in the nation's capital, Bogotá, and as far away as Venezuela.
Governor warns of aftershocks
In an official statement posted on X, Chocó Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba-Curi confirmed that injuries and structural damage occurred in the provincial capital, Quibdó, despite the epicenter being located near San José del Palmar.
"We have just experienced a major earthquake in the department of Choco. We are concerned about aftershocks. Although the epicenter was near San Jose del Palmar, there are injuries and significant damage to buildings in the capital, Quibdo. We are already carrying out a damage assessment and will issue the first official report shortly," Governor Córdoba-Curi stated on X.
Acabamos de pasar un grave evento sísmico en el departamento del Chocó. Nos preocupan las réplicas. Aunque el epicentro fue San José del Palmar, en la capital Quibdó hay heridos y graves daños en las edificaciones. Ya estamos haciendo la evaluación de daños para emitir el primer… https://t.co/tqfFPcdVx7
— Nubia Carolina Córdoba-Curi (@NubiaCarolinaCC) August 10, 2026
Colombia's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) reported that the 7:34 a.m. earthquake measured a 6.6 magnitude with a depth of 79 km.
The UNGRD added that it is actively maintaining contact with local municipal authorities to assess and verify potential damage across the affected regions.
