Local experienceA man managed to escape with his baby in his arms before his apartment collapsed. A testimony that reflects the chaos experienced in this city. Earthquake impacts in Pereira Photo: CourtesyREPORTER10.08.2026 16:30 Updated: 10.08.2026 16:30
At 7:30 in the morning, Juan Felipe Mercado's routine was like any other father's: he was holding his one-and-a-half-year-old daughter María Belén in his arms and preparing to give her a farewell kiss. It was an ordinary Thursday in his apartment, located near the busy 30 de Agosto avenue, very close to downtown Pereira. But the tranquility of that morning lasted only as long as the earth's first warning. It started with a subtle movement, a slight vibration that, within seconds, turned into a violent shake that, according to him, threatened to collapse the entire building. Earthquake impacts in Pereira Photo: Courtesy This 37-year-old Paisa, who has been building his life in the Risaralda capital for nearly a decade, saw how his family refuge suddenly became a trap. He recounted that the ground beneath his feet trembled strongly, the walls began to crack, warning him that the situation was risky. "When I started to see the walls cracking, everything was falling apart, and the door frame cracked, we all got out of there," the man described about those moments when adrenaline took control. He was holding his baby and two elderly women. The run to exit the residential unit was, literally, a flight against death. As they headed to the exit, one of the walls of the main room collapsed behind them. "That wall almost fell on us. With the girl in my arms, panicked, it was hell. I never thought I would live through something like this," he confessed, still processing the impact of seeing his home turned into rubble. With his voice trembling from shock, he managed to send an audio message to his family in Medellín to confirm they were alive: "Our apartment collapsed, we almost didn't make it out." His wife, who fortunately was at a medical appointment at the time of the emergency, did not witness the destruction firsthand. The situation in the Risaralda capital is critical, especially in the urban area. "Downtown Pereira was very affected, many buildings fell, many damages, it was very intense, and since we are closer to the center, where it was felt the most," Juan Felipe explained. In his unit, the collapse of pipes flooded the parking lots, and the detachment of tiles hit several vehicles, although his was spared because it was not parked there. Earthquake and impact in Cali and Pereira Photo: taken from social media video Today, while waiting for authorization to try to rescue some of their belongings from the cracks, Juan Felipe and his family have taken refuge in the home of some friends. The apartment, as he describes, "was left in ruins," but faced with the uncertainty of what is to come, there is only one vital comfort: they came out unscathed. Situation in Pereira Pereira became one of the most affected cities by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake with epicenter in Chocó. Earthquake - Pereira Photo: PRIVATE ARCHIVE According to the official report issued from the municipal crisis room, the mayor confirmed the death of more than 18 people in the Risaralda capital, while at least 30 people remain reported as missing. The emergency also left citizens trapped in the Megacable system, mobilizing a rescue line made up of firefighters and specialized teams to search for survivors among the rubble. Regarding physical infrastructure, authorities reported 12 collapsed structures, of which eight suffered total collapse and four are at imminent risk of falling. Pereira Photo: Private archive Throughout the city, images of devastation are visible: collapsed service stations, large blocks of concrete fallen, and roofs completely destroyed in commercial establishments, causing moments of panic among the community. As a preventive measure to avoid fires or additional emergencies, utility companies temporarily suspended electricity and gas supplies in various sectors. The city remains on maximum alert as law enforcement and rescue agencies continue search and stabilization efforts at the most critical points. Follow all Colombia news on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter.
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