Colombia Earthquake: The death toll from the powerful earthquake in Colombia has risen to 213, with over 900 people left injured, AFP reported, citing the Association of Mayors. As the earthquake left a trail
of destruction across the South American country, more than 3,000 people remain missing.
The majority of the deaths were concentrated in the western cities of Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdo. The Colombian mayors also reported 165 buildings collapsed in Monday’s 7.4- magnitude earthquake.
Colombia Earthquake: Rescue Operations Enter Day 2
Further, rescue operations in western Colombia entered a second day on Tuesday as emergency teams searched collapsed buildings for survivors following the country’s most powerful earthquake in decades. The quake struck the nation at a depth of around 96 km (60 miles), causing widespread destruction across the coffee-growing region. The quake struck at 7:34 am local time, with its epicentre located about three miles east of San José del Palmar, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
Multi-storey buildings were reduced to rubble in Pereira and Cali, while part of a historic cathedral tower in Manizales was damaged. Emergency workers, assisted by police, soldiers and volunteers, continued rescue efforts overnight using excavators and, in some cases, their bare hands, Reuters reported.
Dozens Of Buildings Collapsed
In Cali, at least 85 people were reported dead, while dozens of buildings were destroyed or left dangerously unstable. Parts of a hospital, including floors housing paediatric units, collapsed, trapping patients and forcing around 600 others to receive treatment outdoors.
In Pereira, authorities reported 66 deaths, with residential areas severely damaged. Footage verified by Reuters showed the city’s airport shaking violently, with sections of its ceiling collapsing.
Venezuela Earthquake
Tremors from Monday’s earthquake were felt in Venezuela also, according to the information available from the USGS. The latest earthquake comes months after Venezuela was hit by two powerful earthquakes on June 24, 2026. The first earthquake in Venezuela measured 7.2 magnitude. It was followed about 39 seconds later by a 7.5-magnitude mainshock near the country’s northern coast, west of Caracas.
The disaster has revived memories of the devastating 1999 earthquake in the same region, which killed more than 1,000 people.
