Colombia earthquake death toll climbs past 160 as rescue operations continue
Rescue teams in Colombia continue searching collapsed buildings following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that has killed at least 164 people and left hundreds injured under an active state of emergency.
Emergency responders and military units in Colombia continue search and rescue operations following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the country's western Pacific region near San José del Palmar.
The confirmed death toll has risen sharply as teams reach collapsed structures, with reported fatalities climbing from early counts of 20 to at least 164, while hundreds of people have been injured. The tremor, which originated at a depth of roughly 107 kilometres, caused extensive structural damage across multiple municipalities and was felt across the border in neighbouring Ecuador.
A national state of emergency remains active as authorities work to secure emergency accommodation for displaced families and locate survivors believed to be trapped beneath debris. Officials caution that casualty numbers may continue to increase as clearing operations proceed.
Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă.
Sources
- HotNews — Zeci de morți după un cutremur de magnitudine 7,4 în Columbia. Imagini dramatice – VIDEO
- Adevărul — Cutremur de 7,4 în Columbia: cel puțin 20 de persoane au murit, iar mai multe clădiri s-au prăbușit
- Digi24 — Bilanțul cutremurului din Columbia urcă la 132 de morți și sute de răniți. Mărturii după cel mai puternic seism din ultimii ani
- Ziarul de Gardă — VIDEO/ Peste 130 de morți și 500 de răniți după unul dintre cele mai puternice cutremure care au lovit Columbia în ultimii ani
- Moldova1 — Cutremurul din Columbia: Cel puțin 164 de morți și sute de persoane căutate sub dărâmături
Earlier coverage
- Aug 18, 2026, 07:00 PM UTCRescue efforts continue in Colombia as earthquake death toll mounts
- Aug 18, 2026, 06:30 PM UTCRescue teams search for survivors as Colombia earthquake death toll climbs
- Aug 18, 2026, 09:00 AM UTCDeath toll climbs past 160 after magnitude 7.4 earthquake hits Colombia
- Aug 18, 2026, 06:00 AM UTCColombia earthquake death toll climbs as search operations continue
- Aug 18, 2026, 01:00 AM UTCDeath toll climbs following magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Colombia
- Aug 18, 2026, 12:00 AM UTCDeath toll reaches 164 after magnitude 7.4 earthquake hits western Colombia
- Aug 17, 2026, 11:00 PM UTCDeath toll climbs to at least 164 after powerful earthquake in Colombia
- Aug 17, 2026, 07:00 AM UTCColombia earthquake death toll climbs to 164 as rescue efforts continue
- Aug 17, 2026, 05:30 AM UTCDeath toll rises in Colombia after magnitude 7.4 earthquake
- Aug 17, 2026, 05:00 AM UTCColombia earthquake death toll rises above 160 as rescue operations continue