Colombia's Catastrophic 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Claims Over 130 Lives

Sun Sep 06 2026 05:55:19 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake has left over 130 dead and hundreds of damaged homes in Colombia, prompting a national emergency.

A 7.4‑meter earthquake struck Colombia early Monday, killing at least 132 people and damaging more than 1,500 homes. The epicentre was near San José del Palmar in Chocó province, with the most severe damage concentrated in Pereira and surrounding cities. Buildings collapsed across Cali, Manizales and Bogotá, and a state of emergency was declared. President De la Espriella and international leaders are coordinating rescue operations amid ongoing aftershocks.

Colombia's Catastrophic 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Claims Over 130 Lives

At 07:34 local time, a powerful 7.4‑meter tremor struck the western Colombian province of Chocó, sending shock waves across hundreds of miles of the country. The event left at least 132 fatalities, including many trapped beneath collapsed buildings in the city of Pereira and its surroundings. At least 1,500 homes suffered damage and more than 480 people were injured across the region.

The quake’s epicentre was located near the village of San José del Palmar, but south‑west cities such as Cali endured the worst damage. In Cali, 32 buildings fell, and emergency services are racing to free those believed still trapped. In Pereira's plaza Bolívar, a main square that gathered dozens of residents, a building collapsed, sending debris and dust across the open space.

Local authorities imposed curfews in parts of the metropolitan area until early Tuesday morning, while fire and rescue teams combed through rubble to locate survivors. In Bogotá, the capital, no serious structural damage was reported, though trees and traffic lights trembled violently.

President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office a week earlier, declared a national disaster and granted special powers to reallocate budgets and mobilise resources for recovery. International leaders have offered support: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was closely monitoring the situation, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen highlighted satellite imagery used for rescue operations, and President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador offered equipment and personnel.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, an estimated 1.5 million people felt the shaking at a level close to magnitude seven. The report added that deep earthquakes like this one are less likely to cause surface rupture but can still unleash energy that damages buildings, with the risk of strong aftershocks.