World

Colombia earthquake death toll revised down to 216 as survivor searches continue

Herz — World Desk · 12 August 2026 at 13:22 · 30s summary · 3 min read

The essentials

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026, killed 216 people and injured more than 1,600. The toll, revised on Tuesday evening, had previously stood at 241. According to France 24 and the authorities it cited, searches are continuing in Cali, Pereira and other cities. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed, several hospitals were damaged and most of Pereira’s 480,000 residents lost electricity. Colombia declared a national state of emergency, while the United States offered $15.5 million in assistance and the European Union activated its Copernicus satellite service.

The latest death toll stands at 216, down from 241.
More than 1,600 people were injured.
Survivor searches continue in Cali, Pereira and other cities.
Hundreds of buildings were destroyed and several hospitals were damaged.
Colombia’s government declared a national state of emergency.

What we know

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, particularly the department of Chocó, on August 10, 2026. France 24 reported a latest death toll of 216.

The toll was revised on Tuesday evening after previously reaching 241. That earlier figure combined data from different local authorities.

The earthquake also injured more than 1,600 people and destroyed hundreds of buildings, according to the Association of Mayors.

The epicenter was in Chocó on Colombia’s Pacific coast. Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdó were among the cities affected.

The tremors were felt as far away as Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela.

Searches for survivors continue

Searches are continuing in several cities in western Colombia, including Cali and Pereira. Residents are helping clear rubble and supporting emergency crews.

In Pereira, 32-year-old Daniela Largo was pulled alive from a collapsed building during the night of August 11–12, dozens of hours after the earthquake.

Her mother, Sandra Milena Perez, said a local resident heard Largo’s calls for help and rallied neighbors to remove debris before professional rescuers arrived. Largo’s 12-year-old son was waiting for her at home.

In Cali, Beatriz Arcos spent nearly an hour beneath the rubble of her apartment before being rescued. She still has back pain, while her husband and mother were also injured.

Hospitals, power and transport disrupted

Several hospitals in Cali were damaged. Part of the Hospital Universitario del Valle collapsed, forcing doctors to transfer some patients and treat others in the hospital gardens.

In Pereira, most of the city’s 480,000 residents lost electricity.

On Tuesday evening, families prepared to sleep in parks because they feared aftershocks shaking the affected neighborhoods.

Six airports suspended operations after the earthquake.

Emergency response and international aid

The Colombian government declared a national state of emergency to coordinate relief efforts.

During a visit to Pereira on Tuesday, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella announced grants to rehouse people left without shelter.

The United States offered $15.5 million in emergency assistance.

The European Union activated Copernicus, its satellite-based Earth observation service, to support rescue operations.

Pereira was struck by another deadly quake in 1999

Pereira was previously hit by an earthquake in 1999 that killed nearly 1,200 people.

How the death toll changed

Preliminary death tolls changed sharply and sometimes diverged. Published counts successively or concurrently reported 18, 20, 22, 42, 82, 111, 132, 164, 241 and then 216 deaths.