Colombia 7.4 magnitude earthquake kills about 250, over 4,200 missing

Published Aug 14, 08:36 AM UTC

A devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on August 12, 2026, with the epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó Department. The quake, the strongest in decades, has killed approximately 250 people, with most fatalities in Pereira. Over 53,000 people are affected, 140 buildings completely collapsed, and tens of thousands of homes damaged. Around 4,200 people are missing. In Pereira, the hardest-hit city, residents and volunteers are frantically searching rubble for survivors as the 72-hour window for finding victims alive closes. Official rescue workers are scarce, and locals use arm signals for silence to listen for signs of life. President Abelardo de la Espriella announced an 'economic state of emergency' to access reconstruction funds. The article describes the chaotic scene at Parque La Libertad, where a four-story building housing a bakery, pharmacy, and homeless hotel collapsed into a massive rubble heap.

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