Colombia Earthquake: Death Toll Rises as Rescue Crews Search the Rubble
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake tore through western Colombia on the morning of August 10, 2026, killing at least 224 people and injuring hundreds more in what the U.S. Geological Survey calls the strongest quake recorded in the country this century. The death toll is expected to keep rising as rescue crews dig through collapsed buildings.
The quake struck at approximately 7:34 a.m. local time, centered near San José del Palmar in Colombia's Chocó region — a rugged, heavily forested province on the Pacific coast. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the depth at 107 kilometers, or about 66 miles. Shaking was felt hundreds of miles away in Bogotá, the capital, and in parts of neighboring Venezuela. (Jerusalem Post; Reuters)
Casualty figures have shifted as information arrives. CNN reported at least 132 dead and 570 injured as of August 10. Reuters later raised the count to at least 164 killed, and the Jerusalem Put reported at least 224 dead. The discrepancies reflect the difficulty of reaching remote communities and the fact that rescue operations are still underway. (CNN; Reuters)
The worst damage was reported in Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and communities throughout Chocó. Homes and buildings collapsed. Hospitals and schools were damaged. Aftershocks continue to rattle the region. The quake cut through Colombia's coffee-growing heartland, and Reuters described it as the country's deadliest earthquake in decades. (Reuters)
Colombia's geological service, the Servicio Geológico Colombiano, confirmed the epicenter and magnitude. A separate 6.8-magnitude quake also struck Colombia the same day at a depth of 115 kilometers, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre. (SGC; Reuters)
The human cost has already reached beyond Colombia's borders. CONMEBOL, South America's football (soccer) governing body, postponed two continental matches scheduled in the country because of the disaster. (Reuters)
Relief organizations mobilized quickly. World Central Kitchen is working with local partners to get meals to affected communities in Chocó, Cali, Pereira, and Manizales. Direct Relief is coordinating with Colombian organizations to supply medicine — antibiotics, wound-care materials, surgical supplies, and medical packs for first responders. GlobalGiving set up a Colombia Earthquake Relief Fund to support local groups providing food, clean water, shelter, and long-term rebuilding help. (Town & Country)
All Hands and Hearts has a disaster relief team on the ground, supplying local search-and-rescue crews with tools and protective gear. UNICEF is working alongside Colombian authorities, focusing on health, nutrition, clean water, sanitation, education, and child protection. The House Project, a U.S.-based nonprofit, is raising money for displaced families in Pereira, Cali, Manizales, Buenaventura, and Chocó. A Colombian organization called Colombia Se Levanta — "Colombia Rises" — is also part of the response. (Town & Country)
Rescue crews are still searching affected areas. The full scale of the destruction may take days or weeks to measure.
