Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Colombia Quake Death Toll Rises to 111, State of Emergency
A very big earthquake shook Colombia, a country in South America.
The earthquake was so strong that scientists gave it a 7.4 rating on their special scale.
The strong shaking made buildings fall down, and sadly at least 111 people died.
Many more people were hurt, and some were trapped under the broken buildings.
Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, had only started his job a few days earlier.
He quickly declared a state of emergency so the government could send help right away.
Rescue workers used headlamps and their hands to dig through the rubble and find people.
They even saved a tiny baby and her mother from under a fallen building in the city of Cali.
Scientists said this was the strongest earthquake Colombia has felt in this whole century.
Everyone is hoping more people will be found safe as the rescue work continues.
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck near San Jose del Palmar in the western Choco department, killing at least 111 people and injuring at least 87.
President Abelardo de la Espriella, sworn in on Friday, declared a state of emergency and convened an emergency meeting in Bogota.
Buildings collapsed across Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Armenia and Quibdo; Cali reported 20 collapsed buildings and rescue teams pulled survivors, including a six-month-old baby, from the rubble.
The US Geological Survey placed the quake's depth at 107 km; the Colombian Geological Service called it the strongest earthquake in the country in the 21st century and recorded 21 aftershocks.
Several airports suspended operations, the Petronio Alvarez festival was postponed, curfews were imposed in Cali, Armenia and Manizales, and tremors were felt in Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela.
- Who
- Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, rescue workers and volunteers across the affected cities, and officials including Pereira Mayor Mauricio Salazar.
- What
- A 7.4-magnitude earthquake killed at least 111 people, injured many more, collapsed buildings across several cities and prompted a national state of emergency.
- When
- Monday, August 10, 2026, striking at 7:34 am local time.
- Where
- Near San Jose del Palmar in the western department of Choco, Colombia, with major damage in Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Armenia and Quibdo, and tremors felt in Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela.
- Why
- The strong quake, about 107 kilometres deep with strike-slip motion, caused buildings to collapse and trap survivors, triggering large rescue operations and a government emergency response.
- Magnitude
- 7.4
- Depth
- 107 km (66 miles), per US Geological Survey
- Epicentre
- Near San Jose del Palmar, Choco, western Colombia
- Official death toll
- At least 111 (local media cited 132, origin unclear)
- Injured
- At least 87 nationally; Valle del Cauca province alone reported 700 injured
- Collapsed buildings in Cali
- 20 buildings
- Aftershocks
- 21 recorded by the Colombian Geological Service by late Monday
- Airports closed
- Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura
