Colombian residents are working to rebuild their lives seven days [4] after a magnitude-7.4 [1] earthquake struck western Colombia on Aug. 10, 2026 [2].
The disaster has displaced thousands of families across several major cities, creating a humanitarian crisis that is now being exacerbated by severe weather conditions.
Damage is widespread across Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, Pereira, and Manizales, as well as the Alto Baudó region in Chocó [2]. In Manizales alone, reports indicate that 7,000 homes were damaged [4]. Survivors are currently facing a secondary struggle as heavy rains have worsened living conditions for those left without shelter [2].
Casualty reports vary across sources. The president of Colombia said at least 111 people have died [2]. However, other reports indicate the death toll has risen to more than 250 people [3].
For many, the loss is total. One survivor said to Semana, "The building fell on us, we lost everything" [5].
Rescue teams continue to operate in the hardest-hit areas, though the scale of structural damage has slowed the pace of recovery. Local authorities are focusing on providing temporary housing and essential supplies to those in the Chocó region and urban centers where infrastructure has collapsed [2].
“"The building fell on us, we lost everything"”
The discrepancy in death tolls between government figures and secondary reports suggests a chaotic recovery phase where missing persons have not yet been fully accounted for. The convergence of seismic destruction and seasonal heavy rains creates a compounding disaster, likely increasing the risk of landslides and disease in temporary shelters.
