Roads blocked, airports closed and power cut after earthquake

On August 10, 2026, a magnitude‑7.4 earthquake shook Colombia, triggering landslides, power and telecommunications outages, as well as the temporary suspension of flights at several airports.

Affected roads and corridors

Invías recorded at least 13 points of road corridors in the departments of Quindío, Caldas, Valle del Cauca and Risaralda with landslides, fallen vegetation and sidewalk damage. Some routes were reopened with a single lane in operation, while others remained under observation. In Quindío, the Calarcá–Cajamarca, Armenia–Montenegro–Alcalá and Cartago–Alcalá routes had sections partially released. On Route 5006, between Puente La Libertad and Fresno, three points operated with one lane and one remained under monitoring. In Valle del Cauca, Route 1901 Cali–Loboguerrero, in Dagua, suffered a total landslide and stayed under observation. In Risaralda, the Cauyá–La Felisa corridor in Quinchía was already fully operational, while the Santa Cecilia–Asia stretch in Pueblo Rico continued under observation.

Airports with suspended operations

The quake impacted airport infrastructure. Matecaña International Airport in Pereira was among the most affected, with damage to structural sectors and terminal evacuation. The Civil Aviation Authority suspended commercial operations in Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura and Cali for safety inspections. Airlines Avianca, LATAM and Wingo announced itinerary flexibility, urging passengers to check flight status directly.

Power supply interruptions

The Ministry of Mines and Energy reported a preliminary 18% reduction in electricity demand. According to XM, the initial impact reached 70% in Valle del Cauca, 82% in Cauca‑Nariño and 44% in Quindío‑Risaralda, later decreasing to 46% in Valle del Cauca, 42% in Cauca, Quindío and Risaralda, and 13% in Chocó. Major outages were reported in Manizales, Pereira and Cali. In Chocó, Quibdó and 16 other municipalities served by DISPAC remained without power, while CHEC progressed with restoration works in Caldas and Risaralda. No significant damage was identified in thermal generation plants or the transmission network.

Telecommunications problems

Tigo and Claro reported service intermittencies. Tigo attributed the interruptions to power cuts, damage to part of its infrastructure and preventive inspections. Claro pointed to problems in Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, Quindío and Caldas, also linked to high traffic demand. Both operators maintain continuous monitoring and are working on network stabilization. The Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) reminded that calls to emergency service 123 remain free, even without balance or with suspended service, and recommended using text messages in emergency situations.

Responses from companies and support networks

Several business entities mobilized solidarity networks. Andi, the Business Council, Acopi, Confecámaras and the National Federation of Coffee Growers announced support actions for affected communities and companies. Andi made its networks available for the emergency, while Acopi began a sweep among its sections to identify business damages. Confecámaras offered its chamber network to support merchants and entrepreneurs. The Coffee Federation kept contact with regional committees to assess the situation in the Coffee Axis. Other organizations, such as CEERA, Fenaqua, Asocodis and Asointermedias, declared readiness to coordinate assistance and provide logistical capacities. Grupo Éxito and Fundación Éxito plan to deliver food packages to 3,500 families in San José del Palma (Chocó), Cali, Pereira and Manizales, prioritizing the maternal‑infant population.

With information from El Colombiano.