A Devastating Quake
The 7.4-magnitude earthquake that shook Colombia on Monday, August 10, 2026 has become the country's worst seismic tragedy of the century. With its epicenter in San José del Palmar, in the Chocó department, the tremor has left a toll that keeps climbing: 281 dead, 3,971 injured, and 379 missing, according to the latest official report from President Abelardo de la Espriella's government, released on Thursday, August 13.
The president, speaking to media at the Palacio de San Carlos, confirmed that 44,936 families and 102,105 people have been affected across 15 departments and 426 municipalities. Material damage is enormous: 10,677 homes destroyed and 65,841 damaged, plus 127 collapsed buildings, 236 health centers damaged, 2,136 schools, and 198 roads with issues.
Staggering Numbers
- Deaths: 281 (as of 13/08 21:38)
- Injured: 3,971
- Missing: 379
- Homes destroyed: 10,677
- Families affected: 44,936
- People affected: 102,105
Infrastructure Damage
- Collapsed buildings: 127
- Health centers damaged: 236
- Schools damaged: 2,136
- Roads affected: 198
- Aqueducts: 71
- Vehicular bridges: 34
Economic Emergency and 'Fondo Milagro'
President Abelardo de la Espriella declared an economic emergency on Wednesday, a constitutional mechanism that allows extraordinary measures to tackle the crisis. In this context, he announced the creation of the Fondo Milagro (Miracle Fund), an entity that will channel national and international resources to rebuild hospitals, schools, homes, roads, and airports.
The president also detailed relief measures for affected families: payment of public services, rental subsidies, tax and financial relief, and support for merchants and small business owners. Additionally, three days of national mourning were decreed, concluding this Thursday.
International Aid and Solidarity
The international community responded swiftly. The United States announced $15.5 million in humanitarian aid; the United Arab Emirates donated $10 million; Spain mobilized €1 million; Chile sent 20 tons of food and hygiene kits; and Israel ordered the immediate dispatch of an aid mission. Conmebol and the Colombian Football Federation donated $1 million.
In the sports world, the 2026 Vuelta a Colombia was canceled early to avoid interfering with aid routes. Footballer Luis Díaz announced that his foundation will send assistance, and Betis players Cucho Hernández and Nelson Deossa urged solidarity.
Rescues and Hope
Emergency teams are working tirelessly in cities like Cali, Pereira, and Manizales. Canine units, such as the dog Alaska, have been key in locating survivors. In the Cuarto de Legua neighborhood, south of Cali, a child was rescued after 32 hours under the rubble thanks to a dog's barking.
The National Institute of Legal Medicine reported that 228 bodies have been identified, including 13 minors, and 194 have been handed over to families. The search for the missing remains a priority, although Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara said the search-and-rescue phase in Chocó is over, now focusing on caring for the affected.
Geological Context
The quake was caused by the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate, a process that explains the high seismic activity in the region. Colombia lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the most seismically active zones on Earth. The BBC released an explanatory video about this phenomenon, which is also linked to recent quakes in Venezuela.
The earthquake, the strongest in Colombia this century, hit Chocó especially hard—one of the country's poorest departments, where residents had fewer resources to face a catastrophe of this magnitude, according to the director of the UN World Food Programme.