7.4 Magnitude Colombia Earthquake Kills Dozens in Western Colombia, Buildings Collapse Across Multiple Cities

A powerful Colombia earthquake struck the western part of the country early Monday morning. It killed at least 80 people. Additionally, it collapsed buildings across several cities. The death toll has been rising steadily since the quake hit. Meanwhile, rescue teams are still working through rubble in multiple locations. Colombia’s Geological Service called it the strongest earthquake the country has recorded in more than a decade.

The Earthquake

The United States Geological Survey placed the magnitude of the Colombia earthquake at 7.4. It struck at a depth of 66 miles near San Jose del Palmar. This small community has about 4,800 people and sits in the Choco region, roughly 250 miles west of Bogota. Two aftershocks followed within hours, measuring 2.8 and 4.8. People felt the tremors as far away as Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela. However, authorities have not reported significant damage outside Colombia. Furthermore, officials did not issue a tsunami warning.

Where the Damage Hit Hardest

The Risaralda department emerged as the deadliest affected area. The regional governor confirmed at least 40 deaths there. Pereira, the department’s largest city and a major center of Colombia’s coffee-growing region, accounted for 18 of those deaths. Mayor Mauricio Salazar confirmed this figure. Similarly, Manizales recorded at least two deaths. Fatalities were also confirmed in the Choco department, Calima El Darien, Zarzal, and Tamesis.

In Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, more than 25 buildings collapsed. Mayor Alejandro Eder said rescue workers pulled an elderly woman and a young girl out of the rubble alive. However, he confirmed that additional people remained trapped under debris. As a result, hospitals across Cali evacuated patients as a precaution after the quake damaged city infrastructure.

Airports Shut Down

Authorities suspended all flights at airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura. Engineers needed time to inspect runways and terminal buildings for structural damage. Consequently, the airport closures complicated the movement of rescue teams and supplies into affected areas.

Colombia’s New President Responds

The Colombia earthquake arrived just three days after the country swore in its new president, Abelardo de la Espriella. He is a conservative who took office last Friday. On Monday, de la Espriella said he had personally taken charge of coordinating the government’s emergency response. He then traveled toward the affected region. Addressing the country, he said the state was present and taking action. He also promised that no community would face the aftermath alone.

Messages of support arrived from across the Americas. For instance, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X that the Trump administration was closely monitoring the situation. He added that the administration stood ready to assist the Colombian government and people.

Colombia’s Earthquake History

Large earthquakes above magnitude 6.0 are uncommon in Colombia. However, smaller tremors are a regular occurrence in the central and western parts of the country. The country’s deadliest recent quake struck in 1999 near the city of Armenia. That quake measured 6.2 and killed more than 1,100 people. Notably, the 2026 Colombia earthquake has already become the strongest recorded in the country in over a decade, according to Colombian geological authorities. This disaster follows devastating back-to-back earthquakes that struck neighboring Venezuela in late June, which killed thousands.

Source: CNN, PBS NewsHour, AP, Al Jazeera, OPB, Washington Post, NPR