A magnitude 7.4 earthquake tore through western Colombia on August 10, killing at least 132 people and leaving more than 570 injured, as emergency crews raced to reach survivors buried beneath collapsed structures across several major cities.
The tremor struck at approximately 7:34 a.m. local time, with its epicenter near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department. Shaking was felt well beyond Colombia's borders, reaching Panama, Ecuador and Venezuela.
Cali and Pereira Bear the Brunt of Colombia's Deadliest Quake in Decades
Pereira — home to roughly 500,000 people and located about 35 miles from the epicenter — recorded at least 60 deaths, making it the hardest-hit city. In one rescue that drew wide attention, crews brought 16 passengers to safety after they spent six hours stranded mid-air when an urban cable car system came to a halt. In Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, authorities said at least 188 people remained unaccounted for as landslides continued to hamper search operations.
Nationwide, the disaster left 86 buildings in ruins, damaged 1,575 homes and knocked out 18 health centers and 52 schools. Seven airports halted flights, and five capital cities activated their highest emergency protocols.
UN Agencies and Washington Pledge Aid as Toll Continues to Rise
UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq conveyed the organization's condolences and said multiple UN agencies — among them the World Food Programme, the Pan American Health Organization, and UNHCR — were prepared to deploy support as soon as Colombia's government made a formal request. "Our thoughts go out to all who have suffered as a result of this earthquake, and we stand ready to help as needed," Haq said.
Washington pledged $15.5 million in humanitarian assistance, covering emergency shelter, food security, civilian protection and damage assessments, the State Department confirmed. The U.S. Embassy in Bogotá separately said consular staff were working to locate and assist American nationals in affected areas.
The earthquake struck one of Colombia's most storied and economically vital corridors — the so-called coffee axis, a highland zone whose fertile terrain underpins a significant share of the country's agricultural exports. The region carries deep memory of disaster: a powerful quake in 1999 claimed nearly 1,200 lives there, a toll that reshaped entire communities and still informs how local authorities approach emergency preparedness today.
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