Search and rescue operations are underway in Colombia's Chocó department following a magnitude-7.4 earthquake [1].
The disaster has caused significant casualties and infrastructure damage in a remote region, triggering an international response and the deployment of specialized emergency personnel to locate survivors.
The earthquake struck at 7:34 hours [2], with reports on the date varying between Monday, Aug. 10, and Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026 [3, 4]. The epicenter was located near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department [5, 6].
Casualty figures have fluctuated as reports emerge from the affected areas. Some sources report 13 deaths and 131 injuries [9], while other reports indicate 132 deaths [7]. The highest reported death toll currently stands at 169 [6], with more than 600 people injured [8].
Emergency response teams are working to navigate the debris. The Antioquia Red Cross deployed 30 members of its search and rescue teams to Chocó to provide humanitarian assistance and search for survivors [5].
International support has also been mobilized. The European Union activated its consular assistance and satellite aid to support recovery efforts in the region [4]. Local hospitals in the affected areas are reportedly overwhelmed by the influx of patients [7].
Rescue personnel continue to move through the ruins of San José del Palmar, where the impact was most severe. The operation remains critical as teams attempt to find those still trapped under collapsed structures [2].
“The highest reported death toll currently stands at 169”
The wide variance in casualty reports—ranging from 13 to 169 deaths—highlights the extreme difficulty of communication and data collection in the Chocó department. As a remote region, the reliance on satellite aid and the deployment of external teams from Antioquia suggest that local infrastructure was insufficient to handle a seismic event of this magnitude.
