Death toll in Colombia earthquake rises to 281; 379 missing
The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday has risen to at least 281, while 379 people remain missing, according to President Abelardo de la Espriella. Nearly 4,000 people were injured.
The magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Monday morning between the departments of Chocó and Valle del Cauca. It occurred at a depth of 110 kilometers, or 68 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
De la Espriella said 3,971 people were injured and nearly 45,000 families have been affected. The earthquake destroyed 10,667 homes and damaged another 65,841, according to the president. At least 127 buildings collapsed.
The damage has also affected 2,136 schools, 1,178 community centers, 236 health facilities and five airports.
Heavy damage has been reported across the departments of Risaralda, Valle del Cauca, Chocó, Quindío, Caldas and Antioquia, as well as in Bogotá and Medellín. The earthquake was also felt in Panama, Ecuador and Venezuela.
“The situation is complex, but we are using all of our capacity,” De la Espriella said. Search and rescue operations continue, but the chances of finding people alive are diminishing each day.
¡Imágenes angustiantes del colapso de un edificio desde adentro!
Un habitante en Colombia registraba el fuerte movimiento telúrico desde el interior de una propiedad cuando las paredes y techos comenzaron a ceder.
La cámara captó el desplome de la estructura y la… pic.twitter.com/e2wX2BEqdD
— Cristian Crespo F.
(@cristiancrespoj) August 13, 2026
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
