At least 20 killed in 7.4 earthquake hitting Colombia, with evacuations and damage reported

The quake shook several major cities, including Bogotá, Cali and Medellín. At least 20 people were reported dead in the city of Pereira, about 35 miles from the epicenter.

According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake struck at a depth of 107 kilometres. The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring Ecuador.

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, sending tremors across the country and neighbouring Ecuador and prompting people to evacuate homes and buildings.A video capturing the impact of the earthquake showed a church structure collapsing amid violent tremors. In the footage, people can be seen clinging to one another as the ground shakes. After the tremors briefly appeared to subside, another strong jolt struck the area, causing the church structure in the background to collapse.Large chunks of the building came crashing down, sending rubble onto the ground as a thick cloud of dust spread through the area. The footage showed people continuing to hold onto each other as the violent shaking persisted. TERREMOTO EN COLOMBIA Daños enormes en Pereira y varias ciudades del país tras potente terremoto de magnitud 7,4. | COBERTURA ININTERRUMPIDA. | AHORA en @AlertaNews24. pic.twitter.com/PydNenQcVu— Alerta News 24 (@AlertaNews24) August 10, 2026 Colombia Earthquake: Terrifying Videos Show Buildings Shaking As 7.4-Magnitude Quake Strikes Pacific Coast, Damage ReportedThe epicentre of the earthquake was reported in San Jose Del Palmar, a municipality in Colombia’s Choco region located around 250 miles (400 kilometres) west of the capital Bogota, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS) and Colombia’s counterpart.The USGS said the earthquake occurred at a depth of 66 miles (107 kilometres).Choco Governor Nubia Cordoba said on social media that there were “injuries and serious damage to buildings” in the regional capital. She did not immediately provide further details about the extent of the damage or casualties.The earthquake also prompted residents in affected areas to flee buildings as the tremors were felt across parts of Colombia and Ecuador.The latest earthquake comes weeks after Venezuela was struck by two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude in late June. Those earthquakes reportedly destroyed hundreds of buildings and killed more than 5,000 people.(With Inputs From PTI)

A powerful earthquake rocked Colombia and neighbouring Latin American countries on Monday, with medical teams rushing to help victims after buildings were damaged or collapsed in several cities. The death toll after the earthquake has risen to at least 20, authorities said. The Colombian geological service and its American counterpart USGS put the magnitude at 7.4, with an epicentre 100km underground in the west of the country. Colombia had initially put it at 6.6. In the town of Pereira, 18 people were killed and others were trapped in buildings that collapsed, Mayor Mauricio Salazar told Caracol Radio. “The situation is critical,” Salazar said after the quake centered in neighbouring Choco province. In Manizales, two people were killed, Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas said in an interview with Blu Radio. Colombian officials said they did not fear a tsunami after the early-morning quake, which was also felt in Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela. It prompted building evacuations in Bogota, AFP reporters saw, while news footage showed collapsed buildings elsewhere in the country. The governor of Colombia’s Choco province wrote on X that there were injuries and serious damage to buildings in the department’s capital Quibdo. News outlets aired footage of buildings also destroyed in cities such as Pereira and Manizales in a tourist region called Eje Cafetero. ‘Strong, really strong’ “There is no electricity or cell phone coverage. It was strong, really strong. Things fell in my house,” Martha Estrada, a 66-year-old resident of Eje Cafetero, which means coffee-growing region, told AFP. Alejandro Eder, the mayor of Cali, Colombia’s third largest city, also reported “major damage” that was being evaluated with drones. At least 20 buildings collapsed in the city, with people trapped inside, the mayor said. The city has requested teams from Bogota and Medellin to aid in rescue efforts, he added. “The quake was very, very strong,” said Valeria Polo, a 29 year old content creator in Bogota. Six small airports in western Colombia suspended operations, the civil aeronautics agency said. These airports serve Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura, the agency wrote on X. Bogota Mayor Carlos Galan said on Blu Radio that damage in the national capital appeared to be limited to cracks in the facades of houses and buildings. President Abelardo de la Espriella announced he would travel to the quake-hit region. News outlets aired footage of some buildings with their facades ripped off by the quake. In Bogota some people ran out into the street in their pajamas as emergency sirens rang out, AFP reporters saw. Twin earthquakes in Venezuela of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 on June 24 killed more than 6,000 people and caused devastating property damage.

Dramatic videos have surfaced showing the intense shaking caused by a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia's Pacific coast on Monday, sending tremors across several parts of the country.The footage shows buildings and structures violently shaking as the powerful tremors rippled through the region. People can be heard reacting to the sudden movement, while scenes from affected areas show damage to buildings and infrastructure.Quake Strikes Off Colombia's Pacific CoastThe earthquake was centred near San José del Palmar in Chocó province, with the Colombian Geological Service later reporting a depth of around 96 km.More video has surfaced from the earthquake that rocked Colombia’s Pacific coast, and the tremors reached all the way to Bogotá. Magnitude 6.6 to 6.7 depending on the source, centered near San José del Palmar in Chocó province. Buildings damaged, injuries already being… pic.twitter.com/9SPmjO75m3— Tony Lane (@TonyLaneNV) August 10, 2026 Initial estimates had placed the magnitude between 6.6 and 6.7, but subsequent updates revised it to 7.4. The strongest impact was reported in Chocó, including the city of Quibdó, where authorities reported damage and injuries.BREAKING - Powerful #earthquake rocks #Colombia pic.twitter.com/pBUM5Iy5yu— Masood (@Masood9876) August 10, 2026 Damage, Injuries Reported In ChocóChocó Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba-Curi and Risaralda Governor Juan Diego Patiño reported damage to buildings and infrastructure as authorities began assessing the extent of the destruction.Strong earthquake tremors were felt in #Pereira, Colombia, as the ground shook and residents were left frightened. #Temblor pic.twitter.com/Q5pS11KtI4— Mahrosh Pervaiz (@MahroshPervaiz1) August 10, 2026 Colombia: Significant damage reported in Pereira following the powerful M7.2 earthquake earlier.Buildings have collapsed, with reports of people trapped beneath the rubble. pic.twitter.com/o1ZlmBiaP5— Volcaholic (@volcaholic1) August 10, 2026 Officials have been coordinating with local emergency agencies to inspect affected areas and respond to reports of injuries. Authorities have also warned residents to remain alert for possible aftershocks.Abelardo De La Espriella Sworn In As Colombia President, Vows Crackdown On Armed Groups & Revival Of Oil-Gas Sector | VideoTremors Felt In Bogotá, VenezuelaThe powerful earthquake was felt far beyond the epicentre, with tremors reaching Bogotá and other parts of Colombia. Reports also indicated that the shaking was felt across the border in Venezuela.Despite the earthquake's strength, the US tsunami warning system reported no tsunami threat following the event.Authorities continue to assess the damage and coordinate emergency response operations as more information emerges from affected areas.

At least 20 people have been killed in a major earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday, causing injuries and damage to buildings and prompting evacuations in the capital, Bogota. Colombia’s geological service measured the quake at magnitude 6.6, while the US Geological Survey put it at 7.4. The tremor was felt across parts of Latin America, including Ecuador and Panama.