Almost a hundred dead and serious damage in four capitals of the West: Pereira, Cali, Manizales, and Quibdó

Pereira, Cali, Quibdó, and Manizales concentrate the emergency with collapsed buildings, affected hospitals, and rescue efforts in different locations. Debris in Cali Photo: Samir Rojas JUDICIAL REPORTER 10.08.2026 13:08 Updated: 10.08.2026 13:08 Four capital cities focus the attention of authorities after the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that shook the country and hit western Colombia hard this Monday, around 7:30 in the morning: Cali, Quibdó, Manizales, and Pereira. Pereira, with half of the reported deaths Pereira accounts for nearly half of the 71 people reported dead after the first hours of the earthquake. Its mayor, Mauricio Salazar, reported around noon that there were 40 fatalities, 37 of them in the city, where at least 85 buildings collapsed. The emergency has also caused a surge in demand for services from several health institutions. Los Nevados Clinic, San Joaquín University Hospital, and Confamiliar no longer have capacity to receive more patients, so the mayor asked citizens not to go to these medical centers. Regarding Matecaña International Airport, Salazar explained that the runway infrastructure was not affected, but there are damages in the airport facilities, so it remains closed. Several people were also reported dead there. Salazar also reported that rescue agencies and rescuers are conducting listening operations to try to identify places where people might be trapped and to advance rescue efforts. To facilitate this task, a curfew was declared. 27 dead, including four children, in Valle del Cauca In Valle del Cauca, where after the first five hours of the emergency 26 buildings had collapsed, the governor confirmed the death of 27 people, including four children. “The most painful, four children: three in Calima El Darién and one in Yumbo. There is another girl very seriously injured,” said Dilian Francisca Toro. “In El Cairo, 80% is destroyed, the El Águila hospital collapsed. In Zarzal, there are many injured, the hospital is overwhelmed in the municipality of Zarzal. In Cartago, the hospital also had to evacuate patients, but thank God, there were no fatalities,” she added. In the department, two bridges and the Buenaventura dock collapsed. Rescue authorities and citizens are at the sites where structures have fallen to rescue injured people or recover bodies. “Here in Cali, some sectors have collapsed, and of course, there are some people trapped. However, we are already here with the Army, working to help them get out and conducting the respective evacuations,” said the governor. Cali’s mayor, Alejandro Eder, noted that the city reports several cases of severe damage and that authorities are working to consolidate the situation to prioritize emergency response. The mayor assured that the primary task is to safeguard people's lives and then carry out rescue or recovery operations as needed. He added that all rescue and control agencies have already been activated to respond to the situation. “I know there is a lot of nervousness. Please, everyone stay calm. We are already attending to the emergency. I will soon give another update on the situation,” Eder emphasized. The balance in Chocó, epicenter location Quibdó, due to its proximity to the epicenter, located in San José del Palmar, is one of these areas where severe structural damages have been reported. By noon, there were six fatalities and 36 injured. Among the dead, according to the official, are two children and a pregnant woman. However, there are no reports from areas like Alto and Bajo Baudó, where communication systems have fallen, and there is little information about the damages, which residents have described as “monstrous.” The mayor of San José del Palmar, León Fabio Marín, reported that about 400 homes were affected and nearly 20 collapsed. He explained that between 2,500 and 3,000 people live in the rural area, but communication with the municipality is limited due to signal failures. “There are quite a few affected homes. About 400 homes affected, around 20 collapsed. There are 2,500 to 3,000 inhabitants in the rural area. Our signal is very poor,” said the mayor. Palomeque called on residents not to enter buildings. More than 200 buildings affected in Manizales One of the most striking images of the earthquake was the collapse of the dome of the Basilica Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, in Manizales. According to the mayor, Jorge Rojas, more than a hundred buildings and another hundred homes have partial or total damage or collapse after the earthquake. The mayor confirmed that more than 10 buildings have completely collapsed and that, so far, three people have died. Several schools were affected and evacuated. The mayor announced that there will be no classes all week and asked parents to keep children at home. Rojas also called on residents to stay in their homes and avoid going out into the streets to keep roads clear for rescue agencies. He also dismissed, for now, a scenario of shortages and asked citizens not to go out shopping for supplies as a precaution. The only road closed is the route to Bogotá due to a landslide. To assist those left homeless, the Mayor’s Office set up three shelters: the Main Coliseum, the Minor Coliseum, and the Aranjuez Coliseum, where food and care will be provided for those affected. Sara Valentina Quevedo Delgado Justice Desk Follow all Colombia news on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter. BULLETINS EL TIEMPO Register for our bulletins and receive news in your email according to your interests. Stay informed about what really matters to you. EL TIEMPO GOOGLE NEWS Follow us on GOOGLE NEWS. Stay always updated with the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on Google News. EL TIEMPO WHATSAPP Join the El Tiempo channel on WhatsApp to stay up to date with the most relevant news at the moment. EL TIEMPO APP Stay informed with the EL TIEMPO app. Receive the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on your device. SUBSCRIBE TO THE DIGITAL Reliable information for you. Subscribe to EL TIEMPO and access our journalistic content unlimitedly.