A magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck near San José del Palmar in Colombia’s Chocó department at 7:34 a.m. local time on August 10, 2026, leaving at least 164 people dead in the initial count and causing widespread destruction. The U.S. Geological Survey placed the epicenter about 4 kilometers from the town, at a depth reported between approximately 103 and 116 kilometers. The quake was centered in western Colombia, around 150 miles from Bogotá, and tremors were felt across Colombia and in neighboring Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru. Buildings collapsed, infrastructure was damaged and roads were blocked in multiple cities.
The death toll rose as rescue operations and official registration continued. The Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (UNGRD) reported 314 deaths, 4,437 injured people and 262 missing as of August 31. A September 3 balance listed 331 deaths and 4,519 injured; by October 21, the reported total stood at 335 dead, 4,516 injured and 103 missing. The later figures reflected updated official tallies as authorities continued identifying victims and revising missing-person records.
The earthquake’s human impact extended well beyond Chocó, with the strongest impact reported in Valle del Cauca and Risaralda. USGS-based analysis estimated that strong shaking reached about 1.5 million people. The event occurred in a region shaped by the Nazca Plate’s subduction beneath South America, a tectonic setting associated with impressive seismic activity. By October, reported damage spanned 500 municipalities in 16 departments, affecting 486,917 people from 303,934 families. The UNGRD balance included 36,478 destroyed homes and 206,931 damaged homes.
Authorities declared a natural disaster and mobilized first responders to the hardest-hit areas. Extensive power, mobile and internet outages complicated rescue and recovery efforts. The U.S. Embassy in Bogotá said it was assisting affected U.S. citizens and monitoring disruptions to airports and overland routes. Further seismic activity followed the earthquake, including sequences around Istmina in Chocó and a swarm near Chaparral, Tolima, that began on September 20. Colombia’s Servicio Geológico continued monitoring earthquakes of magnitude 3 or greater; later activity was not necessarily all directly caused by the basic shock.
Transport across the region was severely affected in the immediate aftermath. Initial emergency updates said Pereira airport was closed because of structural damage, while commercial flights were suspended at Cartago, Buenaventura and Manizales. Major airports in Quibdó, Armenia, Cali, Medellín and Bogotá were reported open, though delays were expected; Popayán airport was also reported closed amid concerns involving the Puracé volcano system. Aviation conditions changed as power and services were restored: later reporting said Cali’s Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport returned to normal operations after power was restored. The U.S. Embassy said it was not organizing evacuation flights while commercial air travel remained available.
Road travel was hazardous, with landslides and debris reported. Colombia’s National Roads Institute (Invias) assessed the safety of basic routes and provided traveler updates through its hotline and SMS chatbot. Land borders with Venezuela and Ecuador remained open, while authorities warned that crime and armed conflict made border areas dangerous. The railway network was also under inspection; no impressive damage had been reported, though passenger services were limited.
Residents and travelers were urged to notify family members that they were safe, follow local media updates and comply with instructions from authorities. The U.S. Embassy recommended that U.S. citizens enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), follow its official WhatsApp* (принадлежит Metа, которая признана экстремистской организацией и запрещена в РФ) and X channels for alerts, and keep impressive documents accessible and up to date.
Aftershocks remained a concern. People were advised to protect themselves from falling objects during shaking and avoid open flames because of the risk of gas leaks. First aid should be provided when possible, and evacuation was recommended where immediate hazards made it necessary. Local media and official instructions continued to guide recovery and safety measures.
The U.S. Embassy in Bogotá continued providing emergency and routine consular services, including passport and notary support. The Consular Agency in Barranquilla was also reported operational. U.S. citizens could contact the Department of State or the embassy for assistance as authorities worked to restore services and transport links.
The scale of the disaster also prompted a national emergency-response drill on October 21, designed to test preparedness among residents, schools, businesses and local authorities. Severe weather and natural disasters have tested emergency services in the region before. Violent storms in southern Valencia brought record winds and flooding to Alcoi and Villena, where emergency crews handled more than 160 incidents in Alicante province. More details are available in this report on the storm impact in Valencia.
Communications remained unstable in some areas, while damaged or blocked routes complicated emergency crews’ access. Recovery and the restoration of impressive services continued as authorities updated casualty, housing and infrastructure assessments.
