Colombia President Announces Earthquake Toll of 7.4

On August 10, 2026, the magnitude‑7.4 quake that shook Colombia left 132 dead and 87 injured, according to President Abelardo De La Espriella. The government has already released a preliminary report outlining the main damages and announced that the situation will be updated every two to three hours.

Number of Victims and Injured

The preliminary assessment recorded 132 fatalities and 87 injured. The president emphasized that the immediate priority is rescuing people still trapped under the rubble.

Damage to Homes and Buildings

A total of 1,575 houses were damaged, of which 37 were completely destroyed, alongside 61 collapsed buildings. The education sector suffered damage to 52 schools, while 17 community centers were also affected.

Impact on Transportation Infrastructure

The government reported that 18 roads were damaged and six airports had their infrastructure compromised, remaining out of operation for commercial flights.

President's Reaction and Relocation

De La Espriella declared that he will depart immediately for the Chocó department, where the epicenter was located. “Me dispongo a salir hacia Quibdó, y el resto del Gobierno irá una parte hacia el Valle y otra hacia el Eje Cafetero,” he said.

Disaster State and Measures Adopted

The country was declared in a state of national disaster, allowing the president to adopt exceptional measures and adjust the budget to meet the emergency. “El Gobierno nacional mantiene desplegadas todas sus capacidades para proteger la vida y atender a las comunidades afectadas (…) Lo primero es el rescate de las personas que se encuentran bajo los escombros,” the head of state stated, also ordering that all official reports pass through the UNGRD crisis room in Bogotá.

With information from El Tiempo.