POLISCOPE
Back to feed
NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 10, 2026Miami-Dade

Magnitude-7.4 earthquake strikes western Colombia, causing widespread building collapses and fatalities

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake centered in San Jose Del Palmar has caused significant structural damage and at least 111 deaths across western Colombia. The government has initiated emergency response operations, with search and rescue teams currently navigating collapsed buildings in multiple municipalities.

earthquakedisaster responseColombiapublic safetyinfrastructure
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – Main Feed

Why It Matters

The earthquake is the most powerful in Colombia in the last decade, impacting infrastructure, transportation, and public safety across more than 20 municipalities.

Key Facts

  • A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday at a depth of 66 miles.
  • At least 111 people have been confirmed dead across multiple regions.
  • The epicenter was located in San Jose Del Palmar, a community of approximately 4,800 people.
  • More than 20 municipalities across Colombia have reported damage.
  • Fatalities include 40 in Risaralda, 27 in Valle del Cauca, 9 in Choco, 2 in Caldas, and 1 in Antioquia.
  • Flights were suspended at airports in Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura, and Pereira.
  • At least 19 buildings collapsed in Cali, trapping residents.
  • A tower of the neo-Gothic cathedral in Manizales collapsed.
  • The earthquake was followed by two aftershocks measuring 2.8 and 4.8 magnitude.
  • This is the highest magnitude earthquake registered in Colombia in the last decade.

Who's Mentioned

personMarco Rubio“U.S. Secretary of State monitoring the situation”personJorge Eduardo Rojas“Mayor of Manizales”organizationUnited Nations“International body offering aid”personAbelardo de la Espriella“President of Colombia leading the emergency response”personMauricio Salazar“Mayor of Pereira”locationSan Jose Del Palmar“Epicenter of the earthquake”organizationUSGS“U.S. Geological Survey reporting seismic data”personAlejandro Eder“Mayor of Cali”