State of Emergency Declared in Colombia Following Deadly Earthquake

President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared a state of emergency across 15 affected areas to reallocate funds and accelerate the disaster response following a 7.4-magnitude earthquake on August 10, 2026.

The government estimates that repairing structural destruction nationwide will cost up to 40 trillion Colombian pesos.

The declaration comes as the death toll from the August 10 quake in western Colombia has risen to 319, with more than 4,600 people injured and at least 260 confirmed missing.

According to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), this is the deadliest seismic event in Colombia in recent history. Emergency search teams have rescued 364 survivors from collapsed buildings across impacted areas.

The physical damage includes more than 30,000 homes destroyed and almost 137,000 others severely damaged. More than 300 buildings have collapsed, alongside widespread damage to schools, healthcare facilities, and infrastructure.

In urban areas like Cali and Pereira, engineers have condemned hundreds of buildings and issued warnings prohibiting occupation. Five of Colombia’s regional airports remain severely impacted, disrupting local transport networks.

Relief delivery to the epicentre in San José del Palmar and the broader Chocó region faces major problems due to the destroyed infrastructure. Road blockages, broken aqueducts, and ongoing aftershocks continue to hamper aid distribution to isolated communities.

At Least 30 Dead as 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Colombia