Autoridades de Sucre relatam danos e suspendem aulas após sismo de 7,4

On August 10, 2026, a strong earthquake was felt across much of Colombia, hitting the department of Sucre. Initial assessments indicate material damage in municipalities such as Sincelejo, Coveñas and San Antonio de Palmito, with no injuries reported.

Risk protocols remain active

The departmental authorities keep risk‑management protocols active. The Crisis Room, set up by the Governor’s Office, coordinates continuous inspections in the municipalities to identify new impacts resulting from the seismic event. Monitoring continues permanently, in partnership with Municipal Risk Management Councils and rescue agencies.

Identified material damages

The preliminary balance shows damage to an educational institution in San Antonio de Palmito, where several classrooms were affected. Damage was also found in a commercial establishment in Sincelejo and in a residence in Coveñas. Inspections continue to confirm the extent of these damages and to investigate possible additional structural impacts.

Access restriction to the government headquarters

As a preventive measure, the Sucre Governor’s Office limited public access to the fourth and fifth floors of its administrative headquarters for 24 hours. Access was restricted to staff only, while more detailed technical assessments are carried out in the affected areas.

Temporary suspension of classes

The Departmental Education Secretariat recommended suspending academic activities for 24 hours in schools. This pause allows thorough inspections of infrastructure, ensuring that classrooms, laboratories and other facilities are safe for the return of students, teachers and other staff.

Monitoring and prevention of aftershocks

Governor Lucy García announced that prevention and monitoring protocols have been activated due to the possibility of aftershocks, the main focus of authorities after such phenomena. The institutional call emphasizes the need to stay calm, follow only official information and avoid entering buildings that show cracks, detachments or other visible signs of deterioration.

With information from El Tiempo.