Colombia Sees 180 Dead as 7.4 Earthquake Devastates Cali and Pereira

Sun Sep 06 2026 01:22:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A 7.4 magnitude quake in western Colombia left at least 180 dead, with rescue teams working nonstop in Cali, Pereira and international aid flooding in.

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 180 people and destroying thousands of homes. Rescue crews work around the clock in Cali, Pereira and nearby towns while the government declares a state of emergency. Aftershocks continue to pound the region, and international assistance from the UN, Spain, the United States and neighboring countries flows in.

Colombia Sees 180 Dead as 7.4 Earthquake Devastates Cali and Pereira

The 7.4‑magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia at 07:34 GMT on Monday has killed at least 180 people and left thousands of homes in ruins. Rescue teams are racing against time in the major cities of Cali and Pereira to pry survivors out of collapsed buildings and rubble.

Map of Colombia showing the epicentre of the earthquake — Map: Epicentre of the 7.4‑magnitude quake (source: USGS).

Official figures report 180 deaths, but local estimates suggest the toll could be higher, possibly exceeding 240. President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared a state of emergency and called for national unity. By Tuesday, officials said 2,600 people had been injured and nearly 200 remained missing.

In Cali, a command centre coordinates rescue workers as 239 people remain trapped, 949 injured and 45 buildings collapsed. The city’s mayor announced a curfew from 20:00 to 06:00 to curb looting and manage the disaster response. Upper floors of a pediatric hospital collapsed, entombing patients and staff.

Firefighters pull a survivor from rubble in Cali — Firefighters in Cali work to free survivors from collapsed rubble.

In Pereira, 79 residents died and 1,100 homes were destroyed or damaged. A car‑free day has been instituted to aid search teams, who are supported by volunteers from all corners of the city. Thousands of displaced people have taken to streets, living under tents for fear of further collapse.

Aftershocks have rattled the region, with more than 70 recorded since the main quake and several 3.6‑magnitude events in neighbouring towns on Tuesday. The Colombian Geological Service reports more than 70 aftershocks, underscoring the urgency for continued monitoring.

International aid flows in: The UN’s Secretary‑General, António Guterres, has pledged support, while Spain’s Foreign Minister reported 164 missing Spaniards in Colombia. The U.S. government donated $15.5 million (about £11.5 million) to help relief and rebuilding. Other countries—including Ecuador, Brazil, El Salvador and Venezuela—have offered assistance.

By 08:00 GMT, rescue crews continued to work tirelessly, using excavators and sledgehammers to sift through rubble. Tokyo's emergency teams, worldwide networks, and social media channels are now coordinating crowd‑sourced verification to keep information accurate amidst the crisis.