A magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck Colombia's Pacific coast on the morning of the event, causing significant structural damage and leaving people injured, according to local officials. Nubia Carolina Córdoba, governor of Chocó province, confirmed injuries but did not provide a specific figure, while also voicing concern about potential aftershocks. Manizales mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas Giraldo later said at least two people had died as a result of the quake.
Colombia's geological service reported that the quake hit at 07:34 local time (12:34 GMT) at a depth of 96km. The US Geological Survey, which tracks seismic activity worldwide, placed the epicentre near the village of San José del Palmar in the Chocó region, about 250 miles (400km) west of Bogotá, though it recorded the depth as 66 miles (107km), close to the figure reported by Colombia's own geological agency.
How far did the tremors reach?
Despite its depth, the earthquake was strong enough to be felt as far away as Bogotá, the capital, located hundreds of kilometres to the east, where several buildings were evacuated as a precaution. Journalists broadcasting live on Caracol Radio described furniture shaking inside their Bogotá studio as the quake hit. The tremor was also felt across the border in neighbouring Ecuador, prompting residents there to evacuate homes and buildings as well.
What damage has been reported so far?
Colombian newspaper El Tiempo shared footage said to have been filmed in Manizales, in the country's coffee-growing region, showing a collapsed building with people shouting to alert rescuers to those feared trapped underneath. Separate video circulating on social media showed the collapsed spire of a church in the same city, with a nearby building showing deep fissures across its façade. Local media later confirmed that one of the towers of Manizales' neo-Gothic cathedral had collapsed and fallen onto the nave of the building.
Mayor Rojas said more than 12 buildings and 20 homes had been partially or completely destroyed in Manizales, and urged residents to remain outside for the time being. He warned citizens to be "completely ready" for aftershocks, adding:
Do not go back into the buildings yet – I know this isn't easy but stay outside for a little while at least because there could be an aftershock.
In Cali, a city of around two million people roughly 190 miles from Bogotá, mayor Alejandro Eder said at least 19 to 20 buildings had collapsed, with some residents trapped inside. The city has requested support teams from Bogotá and Medellín to assist with rescue efforts. Eder said officials were still working to establish the full scale of the damage.
Right now, we are trying to map out what has happened, firstly to protect lives and secondly to be able to push ahead with any kind of rescue that might be necessary.
He also urged residents to inspect their homes for structural damage, advising: "If you do not feel safe, if you see very large cracks, please, leave the building." Footage shared by local media outlets showed homes and small buildings collapsing in Pereira, Cali and Quibdó as well.
Colombia's aviation authority also confirmed damage at several regional airports, including those serving Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura, and said all six had suspended operations following the quake.
Colombian president Abelardo de la Espriella said he would personally oversee recovery efforts and that an emergency response centre would be set up in San José del Palmar.
Is this part of a wider pattern of seismic activity in the region?
The earthquake follows a period of heightened seismic activity in Colombia and neighbouring Venezuela. Less than two months earlier, twin earthquakes devastated northern Venezuela, killing more than 6,100 people according to figures cited in the original report, though other sources put the toll at over 5,000. Our earlier coverage of the Venezuela disaster detailed how two quakes measuring magnitude 7.5 and 7.2 struck near Caracas, killing at least 235 people and injuring over 1,500, with rescue efforts and international aid, including a $150 million US pledge, following in the aftermath. That disaster followed our initial reporting on the two earthquakes that struck Caracas, which caused building collapses and prompted warnings of high casualties.
Colombia itself has continued to experience frequent tremors in recent months. According to a seismic activity tracking site, smaller earthquakes were recorded near Pasto on 7 August 2026. A separate magnitude-4.9 earthquake also struck the Valle del Cauca and Eje Cafetero area on Sunday, 10 August, with its epicentre in El Dovio and a depth of 131km, as reported by El Colombiano. That outlet noted the Colombian Geological Service recorded the tremor at 7:16pm local time. Officials note that while smaller tremors, known locally as "temblores", are common across central and western Colombia, quakes above magnitude 6.0 remain rare; a magnitude-6.2 quake near Armenia in 1999 killed more than 1,100 people.
Key Facts
- Magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck Colombia's Pacific coast at 07:34 local time (12:34 GMT), also felt in Ecuador.
- Epicentre located near San José del Palmar, Chocó province, at a depth of 96km to 110km depending on the source.
- At least two people confirmed dead in Manizales; around 19-20 buildings collapsed in Cali with people trapped inside.
- Six airports serving Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura suspended operations due to damage.
- Comes less than two months after deadly 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes devastated Venezuela, killing thousands.
