# Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Kills At Least 132 in Western Colombia

*2026-08-11 18:02 UTC · Other · 1 min read*

> Colombia's strongest earthquake this century killed at least 132 people and injured 570 near San José del Palmar, prompting a national state of emergency.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, the strongest to hit the country this century. The epicenter was near San José del Palmar in the Chocó region, roughly 400 km west of Bogotá, at a depth of 107 km, and was followed by at least 21 aftershocks.

At least 132 people were killed and 570 injured, with more than 1,400 reported missing. Cali saw over 20 buildings destroyed and 380 damaged; Pereira's airport ceiling collapsed on travelers, and Manizales' cathedral tower came down. Six Colombian airports suspended flights for structural inspections, and the quake was felt as far as Ecuador and Panama.

President de la Espriella declared a national state of emergency, saying "the first priority is rescuing the people trapped under the rubble." The United States pledged $15.5 million in aid, joined by El Salvador, Mexico, Chile, Israel, Ecuador and France.

## Sources

- [aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/10/7-4-magnitude-earthquake-hits-colombia-killing-at-least-20)
- [npr.org](https://www.npr.org/2026/08/10/nx-s1-5927515/earthquake-western-colombia)

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TechTools News · https://techtools.cz/tools/news/article/2170-magnitude-7-4-earthquake-kills-at-least-132-in-western-colombia
Česká verze: https://techtools.cz/tools/news/clanek/2243-zemetreseni-o-sile-7-4-zabilo-v-zapadni-kolumbii-nejmene-132-lidi