Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Colombia earthquake: 224 dead, 3,000 missing, buildings damaged
A very big earthquake happened in Colombia, a country in South America.
An earthquake is when the ground shakes so hard that buildings can fall down.
This earthquake was so strong that many buildings broke and houses were damaged.
Lots of people got hurt, and sadly many people died, while thousands are still missing.
The shaking was strongest in western Colombia, near a place called Choco.
Cities like Pereira and Cali were badly hurt, and many people had to leave their homes.
Roads, electricity and water stopped working, which made it hard to help people.
Rescue workers, soldiers and volunteers are digging through the rubble to find survivors.
The new president of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, asked the army to help and declared a state of disaster.
Other countries, like the United States and the European Union, are sending money, food and help.
People all over the world are working together to help Colombia recover.
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia's coffee-growing heartland early Monday, killing more than 200 people (224 per the headline) and leaving over 3,000 missing.
Roughly 1,600 buildings were damaged or collapsed and nearly 5,000 homes were damaged, with Pereira and Cali among the worst-hit cities.
Six airports — Quibdo, Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura — were closed, while roads, power, water, healthcare and communications were disrupted.
New President Abelardo de la Espriella, in office only days, declared a state of disaster and deployed military personnel, engineers, rescue workers and search dogs after visiting Choco.
The United States allocated $15.5 million in aid, the Inter-American Development Bank made $50 million available for reconstruction, and the EU and other countries offered support.
- Who
- President Abelardo de la Espriella, Colombian rescue workers, soldiers and volunteers, supported by aid from the US, EU and other nations.
- What
- A 7.4-magnitude earthquake killed more than 200 people, left over 3,000 missing and damaged or collapsed about 1,600 buildings in western Colombia.
- When
- Early Monday, with search-and-rescue operations entering a second day on Tuesday.
- Where
- Western Colombia's coffee-growing heartland, with Choco near the epicentre and Pereira and Cali among the worst-hit cities.
- Why
- The powerful earthquake struck the region, collapsing buildings, damaging infrastructure and triggering a large-scale rescue and relief effort.
- Magnitude
- 7.4
- Death toll
- More than 200 (headline reports 224)
- Missing
- More than 3,000 people
- Buildings damaged or collapsed
- About 1,600
- Homes damaged
- Nearly 5,000
- Airports closed
- 6 (Quibdo, Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura)
- US aid
- $15.5 million for shelter, food, protection and damage assessments
- Reconstruction support
- $50 million available from the Inter-American Development Bank if requested