A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), sending strong tremors across several cities.
The quake was centered near San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó, around 280 kilometers west of Bogotá, at a depth of 107 kilometers. It occurred at 7:34am local time, the USGS said.
Fuerte sismo de magnitud 6,6 sacude el occidente y centro de Colombia pic.twitter.com/LP0pACezOd
— burbujapolitica (@burbujapolitica) August 10, 2026
Nubia Carolina Córdoba Curi, governor of Chocó, said people were injured and buildings sustained severe damage in the regional capital, Quibdó. She also warned of the possibility of aftershocks.
WATCH: Building partially collapses in Cali, Colombia, after a powerful 7.4M earthquake (terremoto) strikes near San José del Palmar. pic.twitter.com/RgFojiw8hi
— Scope Report (@ScopeReport_) August 10, 2026
The tremor was strongly felt in Bogotá, where alarms went off and residents of several buildings evacuated as a precaution. Bogotá Mayor Carlos Galán said there were no immediate reports of injuries or major structural damage in the capital, although some buildings had developed cracks.
The geological service later recorded a magnitude-4.6 aftershock in the same region.
Despite the earthquake’s considerable magnitude, the US Tsunami Warning System said no tsunami was expected to affect California, Oregon, Washington or Alaska. It also ruled out the possibility of a tsunami reaching British Columbia in Canada.
