Colombia earthquake 2026: Over 100 people have died following 7.4 magnitude earthquake
The earthquake, Colombia’s worst in years, struck near the village of San José del Palmar, in Chocó provinc
(Credit: IFRC/British Red Cross)
Last updated 12 August 2026
Recovery efforts are ongoing in Colombia following a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that has killed more than 130 people. More than 18 aftershocks have been recorded.
The earthquake, which struck at 7.34am local time (12.34 GMT) on 10 August 2026, struck at a depth of 64 miles. It is currently reported by the Colombian Association of Capital Cities that almost 600 people sustained injuries. The government has declared a national emergency.
Where did the earthquake strike in Colombia?
The earthquake’s epicentre was near the village of San José del Palmar in the country’s Chocó province, around 300 miles west of Bogotá. The earthquake was also strongly felt in the regions of Caldas, Risaralda, and Valle del Cauca.
The earthquake struck less than seven weeks after earthquakes in Venezuela hit the town of Yumare, roughly 900 miles north-east of Chocó. The Venezuelan earthquakes killed more than 6,000 people.
What is the Red Cross doing in Colombia?
The Colombian Red Cross has activated its national crisis centre, with local teams supporting search and rescue, evacuation, first aid and initial assessments in affected areas.
The Colombian Red Cross Valle del Cauca Branch has deployed 29 urban search and rescue volunteers to Chocó, supported by four pickup trucks and one lorry. Two specialist canine search and rescue teams have also been deployed to Pereira to strengthen operational capacity.
The Colombian Red Cross will deploy a power plant and one electric generator to support the Dosquebradas hospital in Risaralda.
The Colombian Red Cross continues to provide a coordinated humanitarian response to support affected communities.
“We express our solidarity with all those affected, as well as with the families anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones,” said Olivier Dubois, the ICRC’s head of delegation in Colombia.
“We are closely monitoring the situation to identify the most urgent needs and assess how best to support our partners at the Colombian Red Cross and the people most affected in the areas where we work.”
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