Colombia earthquake toll rises to 319 as emergency response expands
At least 319 people are dead, about 4,500 injured and 260 missing after the magnitude 7.4 earthquake, as a 30-day national emergency begins.
Searches, missing-person checks and building assessments continue. All casualty and housing figures remain provisional.
Latest timelineA 30-day emergency begins as the reported death toll reaches 319
At least 319 people have died, about 4,500 have been injured and 260 remain missing after the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia on 10 August, according to the latest provisional balance from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management.
The new balance records 364 people rescued alive. Missing-person, hospital and local damage records are still being reconciled, so casualty figures may change as searches, identifications and family reunification continue.
The UNGRD reports 153,336 families and 282,709 people affected across 476 municipalities in 15 departments. The government has declared a 30-day state of economic, social and ecological emergency to support relief and reconstruction after widespread damage to homes, schools, health facilities, roads and public services.
The earthquake occurred at 07:34 local time near San José del Palmar in Chocó. GDACS records a magnitude of 7.4 and estimates 5.2 million people were exposed to very strong shaking at intensity VII or higher. Satellite damage assessments by Copernicus and UNITAR-UNOSAT were updated on 14 August.
The wider operation is increasingly focused on safe shelter, trauma and routine healthcare, clean water, sanitation, education continuity, family reunification, debris management and access to communities where roads or communications remain difficult.
Shelter, health and access needs are growing beyond the rescue phase
The earthquake has affected dense urban neighbourhoods and harder-to-reach communities, including places already facing poverty, displacement and limited public services.
Safe shelter
Families need secure temporary accommodation while engineers inspect damaged homes and public buildings. Overcrowding, rain, lighting, privacy and protection risks all need attention in temporary sites.
Health services
Emergency teams are treating trauma while health facilities also maintain maternity care, medicines and routine services. Injured people may need referrals, rehabilitation and longer-term psychosocial support.
Water and sanitation
Damage, service interruptions and temporary displacement can make safe water, toilets, hygiene supplies and waste removal urgent, particularly where families are sleeping outdoors or in collective shelters.
Access and information
Mountain roads, unstable structures and uneven communications can slow assessments and deliveries. Clear local information is essential for safe returns, missing-person checks and reaching isolated households.
How the emergency and response have developed
Thirty-day national emergency begins
The latest provisional balance records 319 deaths, about 4,500 injuries and 260 missing people. A state of economic, social and ecological emergency begins across 15 affected departments as relief and reconstruction planning expands.
Humanitarian and reconstruction needs come into sharper focus
The reported balance stands at 281 deaths, about 3,900 injuries and 367 missing people. Authorities report 25,872 families affected and announce plans addressing 44,000 homes, while new satellite damage products are released.
Search teams work beyond the first 72 hours
Responders continue listening and searching for survivors in damaged buildings. Officials report 348 people rescued alive as the likelihood of further live rescues narrows.
Provisional toll reaches 132 deaths
Authorities record at least 132 deaths, 570 injuries and more than 1,500 affected homes as rescue work and structural inspections expand.
National disaster response expands
The government declares a national disaster and establishes coordination posts as rescue, medical and damage-assessment operations intensify across western Colombia.
Magnitude 7.4 earthquake strikes
Strong shaking is recorded near San José del Palmar in Chocó and felt across a wide area of western and central Colombia.
Missing-person records, shelter safety and access will shape the next phase
The overall toll and scale of housing loss may change as local records and engineering assessments are consolidated.
Searches and family reunification
Authorities are still comparing missing-person reports with hospital, shelter, rescue and family records. The missing total can rise or fall as cases are resolved.
Housing inspections
Detailed structural checks will determine which families can return safely, which buildings require repair and how much temporary accommodation is needed.
Remote communities
Satellite mapping and local assessments may reveal additional damage in rural parts of Chocó and other difficult terrain where road access and communications are limited.
Continuity of essential services
Water, healthcare, schools, electricity, roads and communications will need sustained monitoring as debris is cleared and displaced families begin recovery.
Information used in this report
Servicio Geológico Colombiano; Colombia's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, Presidency and national and local authorities; GDACS; Copernicus Emergency Management Service; UNITAR-UNOSAT; La Silla Vacía; and EFE.
Publication and updates
- Published — Original report published.
- Updated — Material report update.
- Updated — Material report update.
- Updated — Material report update.