RismadarVoice Reporters, August 11, 2026
Rescue teams are racing against time to find survivors after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 132 people and leaving widespread destruction across several regions.
Authorities said more than 2,700 people have been reported missing following Monday’s quake, which is considered the strongest to hit Colombia in more than two decades.
Emergency workers, soldiers, firefighters and volunteers have continued search-and-rescue operations through the night in the worst-hit cities, including Cali and Pereira.
The earthquake damaged or destroyed about 1,600 buildings, with hospitals, homes and public infrastructure among the affected structures. In Cali, dozens of buildings collapsed or suffered severe structural damage, while parts of a major hospital crumbled, forcing hundreds of patients to be treated outdoors.
Officials reported that at least 700 people were injured in Valle del Cauca State alone, while fatalities have also been confirmed in Risaralda, Chocó, Caldas and Antioquia regions.
President Abelardo de la Espriella, who assumed office only days before the disaster, said rescuing those trapped beneath rubble remains the government’s top priority. Additional security personnel have been deployed to affected areas amid concerns over looting, while curfews have been imposed in several cities.
Rescue efforts remain particularly challenging in the remote Chocó region, where access is limited, and the full extent of the damage is yet to be determined. Authorities have also recorded more than 20 aftershocks since the main quake.
Colombia has declared a national state of emergency as international support begins to arrive. The United States announced $15.5 million in emergency assistance, while the European Union activated satellite services to support rescue operations.
Officials have warned that the death toll could rise further as emergency teams gain access to more affected communities and continue searching through collapsed structures.
