A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on Aug. 10, 2024, causing part of the Cathedral of Manizales to collapse [1, 2].
The event highlights the vulnerability of historic infrastructure in seismically active regions. As one of the most prominent landmarks in the Caldas Department, the damage to the cathedral serves as a visual marker of the quake's intensity.
Footage captured the exact moment the structure failed in Manizales [3, 4]. The video shows the structural collapse as the ground shook, providing a real-time record of the destruction caused by the seismic activity [3, 4].
The earthquake, which measured 7.4 in magnitude [1, 5], impacted multiple regions across the country. Reports indicated that the shaking was felt in Bogota and other major cities, leading to widespread alarm [6].
While some reports referred to the damaged building as a church, other sources identified the site specifically as the Cathedral of Manizales [3, 4]. This landmark is a central feature of the city's skyline, and cultural identity.
Local authorities and emergency services responded to the aftermath of the quake. The collapse of the cathedral structure adds to the tally of buildings damaged or destroyed across Colombia during the event [7].
Detailed assessments of the structural integrity of other buildings in the Caldas Department are ongoing. The magnitude of the tremor, recorded at 7.4 [1, 5], is among the more significant seismic events to hit the region in recent years.
“A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on Aug. 10, 2024”
The collapse of a major religious landmark like the Cathedral of Manizales underscores the ongoing challenge of retrofitting colonial and historic architecture in Colombia. Because the country sits on the Ring of Fire, such events frequently test the resilience of urban infrastructure, often revealing critical gaps in seismic safety standards for older masonry buildings.
