More than 250 people have been killed and nearly 2,600 injured after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Monday morning. About 200 people are still missing, as rescue teams continue to search through the rubble in the hardest-hit cities.

Cali and Pereira are among the areas that have suffered the most damage. More than 70 aftershocks have been recorded since the main earthquake, adding to the fear among residents and complicating rescue operations.

 

🇨🇴 Colombia scrambles to find survivors as quake kills 132

Colombian volunteers and rescuers clear rubble with their bare hands and buckets to search for survivors after the country's strongest earthquake in a decade killed at least 132 people and flattened buildings. [1/2] pic.twitter.com/IZx0gk26Nl

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 11, 2026

In Cali, emergency crews are working non-stop in the rubble of the Torres del Limonar building, which collapsed completely. Rescuers have reported possible signs of life and have opened tunnels to reach people believed to be still trapped.

More than 100 people have gathered near the building, waiting for news about their families. Efrain Gallego is waiting to learn the fate of his 80-year-old brother and his wife, who were trapped after the building collapsed.

"Every time there is an announcement that someone is alive, the hope that we will find them is reborn," he said.

Amid the devastation, rescue operations have also brought moments of hope. A woman was pulled alive from the rubble after nearly 30 hours, while a baby was also rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building.

At least 95 people were reported dead in Cali, with hundreds more injured. Dozens of buildings collapsed or were severely damaged. Parts of the upper floors of a hospital collapsed, while four children died at a school in the Calima neighborhood.

Among the victims in the Choco region is Mateo Valencia, the six-year-old son of the mayor of Bahia Solano, who lost his life when the family home collapsed.

Thousands of residents in Cali and Pereira spent the night outside their homes, fearing further aftershocks. Water and electricity outages were reported in areas near the epicenter, while authorities received thousands of requests to inspect damaged homes.

The Colombian president has declared a state of emergency and announced financial support for affected families. More than 1,100 homes have been completely destroyed and over 8,000 others have been damaged.

Meanwhile, the international community has offered assistance to Colombia. The United Nations and several countries have expressed solidarity and announced support for humanitarian operations.

Rescue teams continue to work non-stop, hoping to find more survivors under the rubble.