Colombia quake: Frantic search for survivors as over 2,700 reported missing

What the report says

Rescue crews in western Colombia are searching collapsed buildings after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake killed at least 132 people and left widespread damage, according to Al Jazeera’s report published on 11 August 2026. The hardest-hit areas include Cali, Pereira and parts of the Choco region, while authorities warned the toll could still rise as teams reach more isolated communities.

Local officials reported deaths in several regions, with dozens killed in Cali and at least 40 in Risaralda, where Pereira is located. The article says about 1,600 buildings have been damaged or destroyed, including parts of a historic cathedral in Manizales and upper floors of a hospital in Cali. Citizen-run websites also listed more than 2,700 people as missing, though Al Jazeera noted that figure had not been formally confirmed.

President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office days earlier, declared a national state of emergency and said rescue operations were the government’s top priority. The response has included soldiers, firefighters, emergency workers, volunteers and relatives digging through rubble, as well as curfews in several cities, airport suspensions for structural checks and red alerts at hospitals in five cities. Search efforts have also been complicated in Choco, where access is difficult and the quake’s epicentre was reported near San Jose Del Palmar.

The disaster has prompted outside assistance, including U.S. emergency funding and EU satellite support. In broader context, major earthquakes often strain transport, health care and communications in the immediate aftermath, especially in remote areas, which can delay damage assessments and rescue operations.