On August 10, 2026, a big earthquake shook western Colombia. The quake was 7.4 on the Richter scale, the biggest one the country has seen this century. It was felt in neighboring Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela.

The earthquake happened at 7:34 a.m. local time. It was centered about 173 miles (280 km) west of Bogotá, the capital. By August 12, at least 250 people had died and more than 2,500 were hurt. Thousands of people were still missing as rescue teams searched through rubble in many areas.

Rural villages near the epicenter were hit hardest. In Chocó, a region in western Colombia, whole villages were flattened. Landslides blocked the roads, making it hard for rescuers to reach the area and to bring food, medicine, and other supplies.

Cities also suffered a lot of damage. In Pereira, more than 100 people died and many buildings collapsed. In Cali, Colombia’s third‑largest city, at least 95 people died. Fifty‑six buildings fell, including part of a big hospital that trapped patients and staff.

Colombia’s quake came less than two months after two strong quakes hit Venezuela on June 24, 2026. Those quakes were 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale and happened just 39 seconds apart. They caused big damage in Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira. By August 12, more than 6,300 people had died in Venezuela, about 61,000 were in hospitals, and tens of thousands were still missing.

In both countries, the full impact of the earthquakes is still unfolding. Rescue and recovery work continues as officials try to understand the damage and help people who lost their homes.

Although Colombia and Venezuela share a border, their earthquakes were different. Colombia’s quake happened about 60 miles (97 km) underground where two of Earth’s tectonic plates push against each other. Venezuela’s twin quakes were shallow, only about 6 miles (9.6 km) below the surface, where the plates slid past each other. Because they were so close to the surface, Venezuela’s quakes shook the ground more strongly, causing more destruction.