By: Staff Writer
August 11, 2026
Colombia is in a state of emergency as a 7.4 magnitude earthquake his on Monday, leaving buildings in ruin along with 169 dead and many more missing.
Rescue workers and volunteers rushed to clear rubble as they searched for survivors in Colombia early Tuesday after the country was struck by its strongest earthquake on record.
By Monday night, more than 2,700 people had been reported missing. Many families posted information about loved ones online, hoping for information about their fate.
The 7.4-magnitude quake struck cities across Colombia’s western region shortly after 7:30 a.m. local time Monday, sending panicked residents onto the streets.
The damage extends to at least 1,575 homes, of which 37 were completely destroyed, while 61 residential and commercial buildings collapsed. In Cali, more than 20 structures collapsed, and the University Hospital of Valle suffered a partial collapse; seven large healthcare facilities had to be evacuated. In Manizales, one of the cathedral towers collapsed. At least 52 schools were also affected.
Transportation infrastructure also suffered significant damage. At least 18 main roads experienced landslides or fractures, and seven airports suspended operations: Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura. A partial infrastructure collapse at Pereira’s Matecaña International Airport resulted in fatalities.
The city of Pereira, one of the hardest hit, was plunged into darkness Monday evening as volunteers combed through the remains of collapsed buildings searching for survivors.
“We’re without power. This seems honestly like a zombie city,” resident Juan David Gaitan told French news agency AFP.
At the airport in Pereira, videos showed pieces of ceiling falling down on travelers taking shelter and screaming, and people running through rubble in a panic.
The Colombian government has declared a national disaster and sent rescue teams to the worst-hit areas. The military has deployed search-and-rescue units with specialized equipment and rescue dogs to search for people trapped under the rubble.
Officials from the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Chile, and Ecuador offered condolences and said they are ready to send rescue teams, medical staff, and emergency aid to Colombia.