A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, sending residents fleeing buildings and triggering emergency responses across several parts of the country. Strong tremors were also felt in neighbouring Ecuador and as far away as Venezuela.
The earthquake was centred near San José del Palmar in Colombia’s Chocó region, around 400 kilometres west of the capital, Bogotá. The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake occurred at a depth of roughly 107 kilometres.
The powerful shaking caused significant damage in multiple cities. In Cali, several structures reportedly collapsed, with rescue teams working to reach people who may have been trapped beneath the rubble. Authorities in the city requested additional emergency assistance as the scale of the damage became clearer.
Pereira and Manizales were also among the badly affected areas. At least 18 deaths were reported in Pereira, while two people were confirmed dead in Manizales. One of the towers of Manizales’ historic neo-Gothic cathedral also collapsed during the earthquake.
In Quibdó, the capital of Chocó, officials reported injuries and serious structural damage. Residents in several affected areas were advised to remain alert because of the possibility of aftershocks.
The earthquake was powerful enough to be felt in Bogotá, prompting people to evacuate buildings. Tremors were also detected across neighbouring countries, including Ecuador and Venezuela.
Colombian authorities have launched rescue and damage-assessment operations across the affected regions. Emergency teams are continuing to search damaged buildings, assist injured residents and assess infrastructure, including roads and airports.
The latest disaster comes only weeks after Venezuela was struck by two powerful earthquakes that caused extensive destruction and thousands of deaths, adding to concerns across the region about seismic activity.
Officials have warned residents in affected areas to remain cautious as rescue operations continue and the possibility of further tremors remains.
This is a developing story, and casualty and damage figures may change as emergency teams reach more affected areas.
