Colombia Earthquake Kills at Least 132, Thousands Missing
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake in western Colombia has killed at least 132 people and left more than 2,700 unaccounted for, authorities said, with heavy damage in Cali and Pereira.
The Morning Brief Desk · August 11, 2026 · Based on reporting by NPR News
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake hit western Colombia, and authorities said the confirmed death toll reached at least 132 as of the latest count, up from an earlier figure of 111. More than 2,700 people were listed as missing, and rescue operations expanded overnight across the affected region.
The shaking brought down or badly damaged structures in several major cities, among them Cali, the country's third-largest, and Pereira. In Cali, rescuers worked alongside residents at sites where buildings had fallen, according to NPR, forming lines of people to move debris by hand piece by piece as they hunted for anyone trapped underneath.
Al Jazeera reported that the destruction stretched across a wide area of western Colombia, and crews throughout the region continued combing wreckage for survivors. The Guardian described the quake as the strongest to strike Colombia in years. With so many people still unaccounted for, officials have not indicated how high the final toll could go, and the count of missing may shift as families reconnect and rescue teams reach more sites.
The context
The Guardian reported that Colombia has not experienced an earthquake of this size in years, making the 7.4-magnitude event an outlier for the country in recent memory. The quake's western epicenter placed it near some of Colombia's most populous urban areas, including Cali and Pereira, which helps explain the scale of the building collapses and casualties. The toll has climbed quickly: early reports put confirmed deaths at 111, per NPR, before authorities raised the figure to at least 132 as rescue work intensified. The number of missing, more than 2,700, remains far larger than the confirmed death count, a gap typical of the early days after a major earthquake when communications are disrupted and damaged areas remain hard to reach. Details on the quake's exact epicenter location, depth and timing were not included in the material available.
Why it matters
This is the deadliest natural disaster in the Western Hemisphere so far this year, with more than 130 confirmed dead and over 2,700 missing. Damage in multiple major cities means the effects reach millions of residents, not a single isolated area. The large gap between confirmed deaths and the missing count suggests the toll could rise substantially. For the sizable Colombian-American community, the disaster carries direct personal stakes, with many awaiting word on relatives in Cali, Pereira and surrounding areas.
What’s next
Rescue operations are continuing across western Colombia, and the search for survivors in collapsed buildings remains the immediate priority. Key unknowns include how many of the more than 2,700 missing will be found alive, the full extent of structural damage in Cali and Pereira, and whether Colombia will request or receive international assistance. Watch for updated casualty figures from authorities as crews reach more sites.
Sources
NPR News — Magnitude 7.4 quake rocks western Colombia, killing at least 111 people
Search teams and volunteers picked through collapsed buildings in Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, passing rubble down long human chains as the toll climbed.
Al Jazeera — Colombia quake: Frantic search for survivors as over 2,700 reported missing
The magnitude 7.4 quake killed at least 132 people and caused widespread damage in western Colombia, with more than 2,700 reported missing as rescues intensify.
The Guardian World — Scores dead in Colombia after powerful earthquake strikes west of country
The 7.4-magnitude quake collapsed and severely damaged buildings across several major cities including Cali and Pereira, Colombia's largest earthquake in years.
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