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Residentes embrace as rescue workers search through the rubble of their damaged home the day after an earthquake struck Cali, Colombia, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026.
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Crews searched through rubble in Colombia after a powerful earthquake left thousands missing. President Abelardo de la Espriella said Tuesday that at least 181 people died in the cities of Cali, Pereira, Choco and Manizales and thousands more were injured. More than 1,000 buildings were destroyed in the 7.4 magnitude earthquake on Monday. De la Espriella has mobilized military and police resources, and soldiers, rescue teams, and volunteers are sifting through the rubble. Choco, near the epicenter, is one of Colombia's poorest regions and hard to access. Other Latin American countries and the U.S. are providing aid. Pereira and Cali have enforced curfews to prevent looting.
The search for life in the rubble of Colombia’s powerful earthquake is growing more desperate as search teams push up against a key time threshold to locate survivors before it's too late. The devastation is testing Colombia's new president as his government scrambles to respond to the natural disaster and ensure aid makes to the vulnerable communities most affected by Monday's quake and more than 100 aftershocks. At least 265 people died, and hundreds have been reported missing. Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours crucial for retrieving people alive, though that limit can be extended if those trapped have access to food and water.
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