Colombia earthquake leaves 180 dead, rescue crews strain to save survivors

Sun Sep 06 2026 01:10:58 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A 7.4‑magnitude quake rattled western Colombia, killing more than 180 people; rescue teams race to free survivors amid widespread destruction.

At 07:34 local time Monday, a 7.4‑magnitude earthquake devastated Cali, Pereira and surrounding regions, causing more than 180 confirmed fatalities and widespread structural collapse. Rescue workers are contending with heavy rubble and aftershocks as they search for trapped survivors, while the government has declared a state of emergency. Roughly 2,600 people have been injured, and 200 remain missing. International aid and volunteers are pouring into the affected cities to assist local efforts.

Colombia earthquake Leaves 180 Dead, Rescue Crews Strain to Save Survivors

At 07:34 local time Monday, a 7.4‑magnitude quake rattled western Colombia, leaving more than 180 confirmed deaths and sweeping apart buildings in Cali and Pereira. The tremor shaken a stretch of hundreds of miles and chronicled the collapse of at least 45 buildings in Cali alone.

Rescue teams are working in a race against time to free those trapped under collapsed structures, while the national government has declared a state of emergency. The official death toll remains 181, but local estimates suggest numbers over 240.

Recovery efforts continue as more than 2,600 people are injured and 200 remain missing; the country has issued curfews and car‑free days to aid evacuations and salvage operations.

Health officials report that more than 1,100 homes were destroyed while about 8,000 suffered damage. Aftershocks have persisted into Tuesday, with over 70 recorded since the main event, causing additional fear for structural safety.

International support flows in from the United Nations, Spain, Ecuador, Brazil, El Salvador, Venezuela, and the Trump administration, which pledged a $15.5 million donation.