Colombia Earthquake Death Toll Surpasses 250 as Rescue Efforts Continue

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Colombia Earthquake Death Toll Rises as Rescue Teams Search for Survivors.

The death toll from a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia has risen to more than 250, as rescue teams continue searching through collapsed buildings for survivors.

The earthquake struck on 10 August 2026, in western Colombia, with the epicentre near San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó. The quake occurred at a depth of around 107 kilometres and was felt across a large part of the country.

Cities including Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó and Armenia were among the areas affected, with buildings and other infrastructure damaged by the powerful tremors.

Emergency crews have been working through the rubble of collapsed buildings in an effort to locate survivors, with rescuers using heavy machinery and specialist equipment to search damaged areas.

The number of casualties has continued to rise as rescue operations progress and authorities gain access to areas that were initially difficult to reach. Reuters reported on Tuesday that the death toll had surpassed 250.

Earlier reports had placed the death toll at more than 100, highlighting the rapid change in casualty figures as emergency teams assessed the scale of the destruction.

The earthquake caused significant damage to buildings, hospitals and other infrastructure across parts of western Colombia. Authorities also reported disruption to transport and other essential services in affected areas.

Cali was among the cities to report substantial casualties and damage, while Quibdó and other communities in the Chocó region were also badly affected.

The earthquake was described by Colombian authorities as one of the strongest to hit the country in decades, with Reuters reporting that it was the strongest earthquake recorded in Colombia this century.


PUKMEDIA