7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Kills 169 in Colombia; Massive Rescue Operation Underway
Thousands of Homes and Buildings Damaged as Western Colombia Faces Widespread Destruction
TVN NEWS REPORT : 11/08/2026
Bogotá: A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday morning, leaving at least 169 people dead and around 700 injured, while thousands of homes and buildings were damaged or destroyed. Large-scale relief and rescue operations are underway across the worst-affected areas.
The earthquake struck the Chocó region, located roughly 150 kilometres west of Bogotá. It is being described as one of the strongest earthquakes to hit Colombia in the current century. The region lies near the interaction zone of the Nazca, South American and Caribbean tectonic plates, making it particularly vulnerable to seismic activity.
According to local authorities, around 5,000 homes have either been damaged or completely destroyed. Pereira, Cali, Quibdó, Manizales and Armenia are among the worst-affected cities, with authorities placing the areas under the highest level of disaster alert.
More than 85 deaths have reportedly been recorded in Cali. Several critical structures have also suffered damage, including parts of hospitals serving paediatric and neonatal patients. In Manizales, a tower of a historic cathedral was also damaged.
Rescue Teams Search Through Rubble
Rescue and relief operations continued across western Colombia on Tuesday, the second day after the earthquake. Emergency response teams, police personnel, soldiers and volunteers have been working through collapsed buildings and piles of rubble in an effort to locate and rescue survivors.
The government has activated emergency response mechanisms to deal with the disaster. President Abelardo de la Espirilla convened an emergency committee and pledged to lead efforts to rescue people trapped beneath collapsed structures. A national disaster declaration has also been issued.
The United States has announced financial assistance for Colombia's earthquake response. The US State Department said approximately $15.5 million would be provided to support emergency shelters, food supplies, security and earthquake damage assessments.
Disaster Revives Memories of 1999 Earthquake
The latest disaster has drawn comparisons with the devastating 1999 earthquake that struck Colombia's coffee-growing region. The 6.1-magnitude quake killed more than 1,000 people and caused extensive destruction.
The much stronger magnitude of the latest earthquake has raised concerns about the scale of the damage and the potential for further casualties.
Seven airports have reportedly suspended operations following the disaster. Hospitals, roads, public transport, water supplies, electricity networks and telecommunications services have also been disrupted across large parts of the affected region.
Hundreds Feared Missing
Rescue agencies are facing a major challenge in locating people trapped beneath collapsed structures and determining the number of missing persons.
Authorities in the Chocó region have reported that many people remain unaccounted for. Families have begun using digital databases to search for relatives and loved ones. One such database reportedly contains records of more than 1,400 missing people.
Officials have warned that the death toll could rise further as rescue teams continue searching collapsed buildings where survivors may still be trapped.
International assistance has also been offered to Colombia. Countries from the United States, South America, Europe and the Middle East have expressed their willingness to support the country's ongoing relief and rescue efforts.
For now, emergency teams remain focused on saving lives, providing medical assistance and restoring essential services in the hardest-hit areas.