Colombia earthquake: At least 224 dead, people trapped in collapsed buildings, officials say

Colombia earthquake: At least 224 dead, people trapped in collapsed buildings, officials say
The president has declared a national disaster.
August 11, 2026, 11:28 AM
At least 224 people are dead after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake rocked western Colombia on Monday, Colombia's Public Ministry said.
The country's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has declared a national disaster, with destruction reported in multiple cities.
The earthquake's epicenter was 5 kilometers, or about 3 miles, east of San Jose del Palmar, Colombia, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Along with the 224 dead, at least 572 others have been injured, officials said.
Alejandro Eder, the Mayor of Cali, said in a social media post on Tuesday morning that of the people killed in the earthquake, 95 perished in Cali, the second-largest city in Colombia with more than 2.2 million residents.
Eder said at least 86 people have been rescued in Cali so far. Preliminary reports indicate that at least 239 people are believed to be trapped in rubble and 949 people injured in the city, according to Eder.
The U.S. State Department said in a post on X that the Trump administration is committing $15.5 million for the Colombia earthquake response that will go towards emergency shelter, food, protection and earthquake assessments.
The earthquake was the strongest recorded in the country in a decade, according to the Colombian Geological Survey.
The Trump administration is "closely monitoring" the earthquake and stands "ready" to support the people of Colombia, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.