The fall of a tower of the cathedral, a display of devastation in Manizales

Six people have died and at least 42 people have been injured, according to the preliminary report in the department of Caldas. Manizales, the most affected. Cathedral of Manizales affected by earthquake Photo: PRIVATE ARCHIVE 10.08.2026 19:20 Updated: 10.08.2026 19:20 The earthquake this Monday has so far left five people dead and 42 injured across the department of Caldas. The fatalities are from Manizales (5) and Villamaría (1). Additionally, 553 homes are affected; 32 public infrastructure buildings damaged; as well as six hospitals and one health center with structural damages. One of the most visibly affected sites is the Basilica Cathedral of Manizales, one of the city's most symbolic structures. Seeing one of its towers fallen, its iconic Christ missing, and saints half-supported are some of the most striking images left by the quake that occurred Monday morning. The cathedral is located in Bolívar Square, the main meeting point in emergencies of this kind; so seeing it destroyed is inevitable. Cathedral of Manizales affected by earthquake Photo: ARCHIVE PRIVATE This neo-Gothic temple had already recovered from two tragedies. The first was a fire on July 3, 1925; at that time—after great efforts by the residents of Manizales—the fire was contained and severe damage was avoided. The second event was fatal; on March 20, 1926, a fire completely consumed it. Now, in 2026, it will have to be reborn again, reconstructed amid the shock and pain of dozens of families in the area who saw their homes and businesses affected. The historic city center was one of the most affected sites. Houses and historic buildings that are part of the city's heritage suffered serious damage, so services provided by various entities are suspended until further notice. Affected in Manizales Photo: ARCHIVE PRIVATE "I was outside at the time of the earthquake. It felt very strong, there was a moment when I only saw the dust rising from the structures that were moving. Also, the windows of the buildings rattled, it seemed like they were going to break. I just stopped, hugged the person I was with, and prayed for it to pass," Laura Cardona told this newspaper. She was on her way to work, in a building downtown at the moment of the quake. "I crossed through Carrera 23 and there were several collapsed homes, blocks on the ground, dust. Then I arrived at the Cathedral and saw the extent of the destruction, the fallen tower, the missing Christ, people crying sitting on the steps of the Square—it was a very distressing image; one I had never seen before," she pointed out. The building where she works has structural damages; work has been suspended until further notice. The same applies to the two buildings of the Caldas Government Palace in Manizales, whose facades are visibly affected. In response to the emergency, authorities part of the Caldas Risk Management Committee declared a Public Calamity and Manifest Urgency, as all the department's installed capacities to handle this emergency have been exceeded. Church of Manizales affected by today's earthquake August 10. Photo: Supplied Manizales, the most affected Amid the loss of four lives in Manizales, rescuers have been able to save several people. Around 3:00 p.m. this Monday, rescue agencies reported that they managed to rescue an 18-year-old alive after a building collapse. Rescuers located the victim among the rubble and successfully extracted her. "An exemplary deployment of coordination and immediate response allowed the successful rescue of an 18-year-old woman, who was trapped after a building collapsed on Avenida Santander with Calle 62, in the sector of the Catholic University, as a result of the strong seismic movement recorded early in the morning. The emergency was handled through a rigorous coordinated operation involving the Official Fire Department, the Colombian Red Cross, and the National Police," reported the Risk Management Unit. Regarding damages, the mayor of Manizales, Jorge Eduardo Rojas, said the city is on alert and continues to attend to buildings with partial collapses, identifying missing or injured persons. By the time of this report, the capital of Caldas had recorded 19 partial collapses, 17 total collapses, damages in two hospitals, three fires related to the quake, and several gas and water leaks. Collapsed buildings in Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdó after a strong earthquake. Photo: EFE / Private Archive "There are more than 324 operational units, 2,000 people helping, and machinery ready for response. We ask everyone to stay in their homes if structurally sound; do not move vehicles, and do not fear shortages, as there are none at this moment," said the mayor. The city has already set up three shelters for those affected, which are still being registered. The first, already operational, is located at the Coliseo Mayor; later, the Coliseo Menor will be opened, and if necessary, a third in a neighborhood to be determined. "It is recommended that commercial establishments in Manizales consider, as much as possible, not to hold workdays today (Tuesday) as a preventive measure, so that all citizens can attend to any damages to their homes or businesses while the seismic assessments continue. Contacts with various sectors are maintained to identify possible damages. So far, only one establishment has reported total damages. Hotel capacity is also being reviewed to accommodate those who need it, and ongoing communication is maintained with the city's economic sectors," Rojas stated. Laura Usma Cardona - EL TIEMPO correspondent in the Coffee Axis Follow all Colombia news on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter. 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