Magnitude 7.4 quake hits western Colombia, killing at least 111 people

CALI, Colombia (AP) — A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 111 people, damaging hundreds of buildings and leaving many trapped under debris while their loved ones and rescue workers searched through rubble. Colombia's Geological Service said Monday's quake was the country's strongest recorded "in the 21st century," and that it was followed by several aftershocks. Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella said at least 87 people were injured and around 1,600 buildings were damaged, including at least 61 that completely collapsed. Local authorities said the death toll included at least 40 people who were killed in the Risaralda region, where Pereira is located, and 27 people in the Valle del Cauca region, where Cali is located, including three children. Authorities also confirmed nine people killed in Choco, two in the Caldas region and a 73-year-old in the Antioquia region. It was not immediately clear where the other 32 people died. The page's own description field reads: "At least 73 people have been killed and dozens of buildings have collapsed in cities across western Colombia after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the South American nation." The URL address of this page begins with "47-dead-buildings-collapsed".

[Earlier fetch of this same page, 2026-08-10T19:49Z — the body then read, in the same spot: "Colombia's Geological Service said Monday that it had been 'the highest magnitude earthquake registered in Colombia in the last decade' and that it had been followed by two 2.8 and 4.8 magnitude aftershocks." Re-fetched 2026-08-11T03:45Z, that sentence now reads the "21st century" version above.]