A massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on the morning of August 10, 2026, centered near San Jose Del Palmar. The tremor caused widespread destruction, leading to fatalities in Pereira and Manizales and forcing emergency hospital evacuations in Cali.
Death tolls in Pereira and Manizales rise amid structural collapses
The earthquake, which occurred at 7:30 am local time, has already resulted in a significant loss of life. According to the report, the mayor of Pereira confirmed that 18 people have died following the tremors. In the city of Manizales, located west of Bogota, the mayor reported at least two fatalities and significant structural damage, including the collapse of one of the spires of the Manizales Cathedral.
The destruction was particularly visible in Cali, a major city of 2.3 million people. The mayor of Cali stated that at least 20 buildings have collapsed, a crisis that forced local hospitals to evacuate their patients. As the report notes, footage from the scene showed elderly patients being moved onto hospital beds outside the facilities to escape the crumbling structures.
Six major airports suspended by UAEAC following the 7.4 magnitude quake
Aviation infrastructure across the region has been severely disrupted by the seismic activity. The UAEAC, Colombia's aviation authority, announced the immediate suspension of flights from six different airports to ensure public safety. The affected locations include the airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura.
The disruption to travel comes as residents in the Eje Cafetero region struggle with a total loss of essential services. Martha Estrada, a 66-year-old resident, told AFP that the earthquake was powerful enough to knock items from inside her home, and she reported a complete lack of electricity and cellular coverage in the area.
A grim parallel to Venezuela's June earthquake tragedy
This seismic event occurs during a period of heightened geological instability in South America. colombia's location on the Pacific Ring of Fire makes it naturally susceptible to such massive tectonic shifts, but the scale of this event is particularly harrowing given recent regional history. In June, Venezuela was struck by twin earthquakes that claimed more than 6,000 lives, primarily near the capital, Caracas.
The international community has already begun responding to the Colombian crisis. Israel's foreign minister , Gideon Sa'ar, expressed his concern via X and offered assistance to Colombia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Omar Bula. This diplomatic ourteach underscores the potential for a large-scale humanitarian response as the full extent of the damage is realized.
The unverified damage assessment in the Choco department
In the Choco department, the full extent of the devastation remains unconfirmed. While Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi has stated that officials are currently carrying out a damage assessment in the capital, Quibdo, the specific number of injuries or deaths in that region has not yet been verified. There are also significant questions regarding the stability of remaining structures as residents fear the impact of potential aftershocks.
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