A strong earthquake shook Colombia this Monday, August 10, 2026 and caused evacuations and alarm in several cities in the country. The movement had its epicenter in the department of Chocó and was perceived hundreds of kilometers away, including Bogotá.

The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) reported that the earthquake was recorded at 7:34 a.m. Colombia time, had a magnitude of 6.6 and a depth of 79 kilometers. The epicenter was located near San José del Palmar, Chocó.

The Colombian Geological Service had initially released a preliminary bulletin that calculated a magnitude of 6.7 and a depth of 82 kilometers, something common during the first minutes after an earthquake, when the parameters are still being reviewed.

The news is developing and the figures may be updated by the seismological authorities.

Where was the Colombia earthquake felt?

The movement was widely perceived in different areas of central and western Colombia. In addition to Bogotá, it was reported that the tremor was felt in departments such as Antioquia, Cundinamarca and Meta, among other regions. Reuters reported that its witnesses perceived it even in areas close to the border with Venezuela.

It was also strongly felt in cities in the west of the country, including Cali, Armenia and Manizales, where the first infrastructure verifications began after the earthquake.

The power of the movement caused numerous people to leave buildings and go out into open spaces while authorities initiated emergency protocols.

Was there damage or injuries?

During the first minutes after the earthquake there was still no confirmed national toll of victims or serious damage. The UNGRD reported that it was in contact with local authorities to verify possible effects in the municipalities and departments where the movement was felt most intensely.

The Associated Press also reported that, in the first available reports, authorities had not confirmed any injuries or significant damage.

However, Colombian media began to report on possible damage in some cities in the west of the country. As this information was still being collected, the authorities had not published a consolidated balance sheet during the first hour after the earthquake.

The epicenter was in San José del Palmar, Chocó

San José del Palmar is located in the department of Chocó, in western Colombia, near the border area with Valle del Cauca. But, the fact that the earthquake originated several dozen kilometers deep contributed to the fact that the seismic waves could be felt in a large area of ​​the country.

The earthquake occurred approximately 400 kilometers west of Bogotá, according to the first calculations released after the movement.

That the magnitude goes from 6.7 to 6.6 during the first minutes does not mean that two different earthquakes have occurred. Seismological organizations initially publish automatic or preliminary data obtained from monitoring stations. As more records are added and specialists review the signals, parameters such as magnitude, depth and exact location of the epicenter can be modified.

The Colombian Geological Service first reported a magnitude of 6.7 and a depth of 82 kilometers. Subsequently, the information released by the UNGRD placed the event at magnitude 6.6 and 79 kilometers deep.

Therefore, official data may continue to be adjusted in the coming hours.

Can there be aftershocks after the earthquake?

Aftershocks can occur after a strong earthquake, although it is not possible to accurately anticipate their number, magnitude, or exact timing. For that reason, authorities recommend staying attentive to official channels and avoiding returning to buildings that have visible damage until they can be evaluated.

The Colombian Geological Service maintains permanent monitoring of seismic activity and publishes updates on the movements detected in the territory.

Earthquake in Colombia: developing news

The earthquake occurred shortly after 7:30 a.m. this Monday, August 10, so the evaluation of its consequences has just begun.

The UNGRD and regional authorities continue to verify possible damage to homes, buildings, roads and other structures in the areas where the movement was felt most strongly.

Until the first information available, a death toll had not been officially confirmed, while emergency agencies continued to assess the situation.

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