Tragedy in Colombia: 7.4 magnitude earthquake leaves a regrettable toll
Last Monday, August 10, 2026, Colombia was shaken by a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that has shocked the nation. The seismic event had its epicenter near San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó, causing significant devastation in strategic cities such as Pereira, Cali, Manizales, and Quibdó.
According to the most recent official reports, the death toll has risen to 132 people, while rescue teams continue to work arduously among the rubble of the dozens of buildings that collapsed due to the intensity of the seismic movement.
Impact and magnitude of the earthquake
Experts from the Colombian Geological Service have detailed the technical particularities of this phenomenon. The director of the entity, Julio Fierro Morales, clarified that the earthquake did not originate on the surface, but rather had a considerable depth of approximately 88 kilometers, which allowed the impact to be felt with great force across a vast region of Colombian territory.
It was not a shallow earthquake, nor did it occur near the surface. It had a considerable depth, of approximately 88 kilometers.
Julio Fierro Morales, director of the Colombian Geological Service
Stories from those affected
Anguish gripped families in the most affected areas. Citizens in Pereira described the moment of impact with great desperation, noting that the noise and movement were so intense that they felt extreme vibrations inside their homes, comparing the sensation to an uncontrollable force beneath their feet.
National outlook regarding the emergency
- The epicenter was located in the Chocó department.
- Authorities have deployed emergency operations in critical areas.
- Severe structural damage is reported in Manizales, Cali, and Pereira.
- The national government is evaluating the declaration of an emergency to expedite humanitarian aid.
Alofoke Deportes remains attentive to the evolution of this tragedy, as the country unites in solidarity with the families of the victims and those affected who have lost their homes in this natural disaster, which is unprecedented in the last decade.
