Colombia Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 273 as Rescue Efforts Continue

Colombia Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 273 as Rescue Efforts Continue

Bogota, August 14, 2026: The death toll from the powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday has risen to 273, while rescue teams continue searching for people still trapped or missing in affected areas.

According to Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, 3,824 people have been injured and 377 remain missing. The disaster has affected more than 97,500 people, with over 40,000 families reporting impacts from the quake.

The earthquake caused extensive damage to infrastructure, destroying 12,584 homes and damaging nearly 75,000 others. At least 172 buildings collapsed, while schools, healthcare facilities, community centres and airports were also affected.

Search-and-rescue teams, supported by rescue dogs and emergency equipment, continue to work through damaged areas as authorities assess the scale of the destruction and coordinate relief operations. A further 4.2-magnitude tremor was also recorded in the Chocó region, where the main quake was centred.