Video shows panic at Pereira airport during 7.4 quake
José Gallego's recording captures passengers' reaction and structural damage
On August 10, 2026, a magnitude 7.4 quake shook several regions of Colombia, including the city of Pereira. The event sparked panic at Matecaña International Airport, captured on video by content creator José Gallego, whose video has already amassed nearly 5 million views.
The video recorded by José Gallego
The influencer, identified as @soy_gallego, filmed the scene from under a terminal table, wearing a green sweatshirt and sunglasses. Next to him was another man in a white shirt. The camera showed the building trembling violently, with the ceiling partially collapsed, metal grates falling, and dust enveloping red chairs.
Reaction of passengers and the influencer himself
Deafening screams echoed among travelers as the shaking continued. Amid the chaos, Gallego exclaimed “¡Dios!”. A few seconds later, when he realized the tremor had stopped, he turned to his companion saying: “Marica, tembló muy duro, huevón, por mucho tiempo”.
Damage to the airport’s infrastructure
Reports of structural damage led to the suspension of operations at Pereira’s aviation terminal. The partial ceiling collapse and the detachment of metal parts were visible in the video, highlighting the severity of the impacts.
Statements from the content creator
After criticism that he had filmed only to get “likes”, Gallego used Instagram Stories to clarify that he was already live streaming on his YouTube channel when the earthquake struck, stating: “Me da mucha tristeza que piensen que me grabé por likes; yo estaba en vivo en mi canal de YouTube y todo ocurrió en vivo”.
Consequences and authorities' search efforts
According to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) and local authorities, the quake left at least 80 dead nationwide, with 40 victims in the Risaralda department and 18 in the city of Pereira. Rescue teams, officials and the national government continue to search for possible missing persons among the rubble and assess damage to the affected buildings.
With information from El Colombiano.
Source: El Colombiano