A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, killing more than 100 people and damaging major cities.
The earthquake struck at around 7:34 am local time on August 10, with the epicentre near San José del Palmar in Colombia’s Chocó department, according to US Geological Survey data. It occurred at a depth of roughly 107 km and was felt across a wide area, including Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdó, as well as neighbouring countries. Reuters reported at least 111 deaths, while other reports put the toll higher as rescue teams continued searching damaged buildings. More than 1,600 structures were reported damaged, including at least 61 that completely collapsed. The Editorial Team of Behind The Headlines reports that the remote location of the epicentre and damaged communications have made it difficult for authorities to assess the full scale of destruction in parts of Chocó.
The immediate priority has shifted to search, rescue and medical assistance. Rescue teams have been searching collapsed buildings for survivors while hospitals in affected cities have treated the injured. Pereira, Cali and other areas reported significant damage, while parts of Chocó remained difficult to reach because of the region's rugged terrain and disrupted infrastructure. The Colombian government declared a national state of emergency to speed up the deployment of resources. Authorities have also warned about aftershocks, with multiple tremors recorded after the main earthquake. International assistance has begun to arrive, including a US pledge of $15.5 million in support.
The earthquake is being described as Colombia's strongest recorded quake of the 21st century, making the disaster particularly significant for a country located in a highly active seismic region. The depth of the earthquake meant that the shaking travelled across a large area, affecting cities far from the epicentre. Authorities are now assessing buildings, roads, hospitals and airports while rescue operations continue. The final death toll is expected to remain uncertain until teams can reach remote communities and complete searches of collapsed structures. For now, the focus remains on finding survivors, treating the injured and determining the full extent of the damage caused by the powerful tremor.