Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Rocks Colombia, Over 2,700 Missing

Rescue teams searched through the night and into the morning of August 11 amid the rubble in western Colombia for survivors after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake. According to local media, this was the strongest earthquake to hit the South American nation in the 21st century, killing at least 132 people and causing widespread destruction.

Rescue forces in the hardest-hit cities, including Cali and Pereira, worked through the night, listening for signs of life and trying to reach those trapped under concrete and debris. The Choco region, west of Cali and Pereira, was also affected, though the extent of the damage remained unclear.

Casualties and Damage

Dozens of people were killed in Cali, a city about 280 kilometers southwest of the capital Bogota. A statement from President Abelardo de la Espriella said 35 people died in the city of about 2.2 million. Dozens of buildings were leaning or had collapsed, forcing residents into the streets.

Authorities in the Risaralda region, where Pereira is located, reported at least 40 deaths there. Officials also confirmed nine deaths in Choco, two in Caldas, and one 73-year-old in Antioquia.

Initially, at least 87 people were reported injured, but President de la Espriella later said there were 700 injured in Valle del Cauca alone. More than 2,700 people were reported missing on websites set up by residents as of the evening of August 10, although this figure does not necessarily reflect the number of confirmed missing persons.

Around 1,600 buildings were damaged or destroyed, including the tower of an old church in Manizales. The upper floors of a hospital in Cali, including the pediatric unit, collapsed, trapping some patients and forcing about 600 others to receive care on streets strewn with rubble.

Rescue Efforts

President de la Espriella, who took office on August 8, said the government's top priority was rescuing those trapped under the debris. About 1,000 security forces members were to be deployed to Cali before dawn on August 11 following reports of looting. Cali and Pereira imposed curfews on the night of August 10.

Search and rescue operations continued into the morning of August 11, involving soldiers, rescue workers, firefighters, volunteers, and relatives digging through collapsed buildings. In Cali, volunteers formed human chains to pass concrete, bricks, and debris by hand. Rescue teams repeatedly paused to listen for signs of life.

Firefighters said two women and two children had been rescued from a collapsed building. In Pereira, rescue workers said they were in contact with a boy trapped under a bakery while cranes were used to remove dangerous parts of damaged buildings.

The government also deployed engineers, rescue workers, and search dogs to Choco, where the extent of destruction remained unknown because the area is remote and difficult to access. President de la Espriella said the government had mobilized the “entire military and police force” for the response.

The town of San Jose Del Palmar, with a population of 4,800 and about 400 kilometers west of Bogota, was the epicenter of the earthquake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Much of the Choco region is only reachable by boat or plane, complicating damage assessments. Colombia's Geological Service recorded 21 aftershocks as of the evening of August 10.

Camila Gomez, deputy director of the Colombia and Venezuela program at the International Rescue Committee, warned the strong earthquake struck a region already in deep crisis. She said around 50 educational facilities were affected, creating an urgent need for health and education services.

Government and International Response

Colombia declared a national state of emergency. President de la Espriella visited Quibdo, the capital of the Choco region, and Cali, pledging rental support for those whose homes were damaged. Nightly curfews were imposed in Cali, Armenia, and Manizales. Hospitals in five cities were put on red alert, while airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura were temporarily closed for structural inspections.

Residents played a major role in the initial response, bringing food and supplies and helping firefighters search for survivors. Carmen Yasmin Garcia, 43, a volunteer in Cali, said her team had rescued seven people from a collapsed building, but four others and a dog remained trapped. “There was scratching earlier, but now we can't hear anything. We still believe the dog is alive and we can get these people out,” Garcia said.

Authorities also postponed the Petronio Alvarez Music Festival in Cali, an annual event scheduled to begin August 13, along with professional soccer matches.

The United States announced $15.5 million in emergency aid for shelter, food, and earthquake relief. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was closely monitoring the situation. The European Union mobilized its Copernicus satellite service to support rescue operations. El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele and Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said they were ready to assist Colombia.