A major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck western Colombia at 7:34 a.m. local time on Monday, August 11, 2026, with its epicenter in the department of Chocó. The quake caused buildings to collapse and severely damaged infrastructure in key cities including Cali and Pereira.

According to the Colombian Association of Capital Cities, which coordinates efforts across the country, at least 132 people have died and more than 570 were injured as of Monday afternoon. The tremor was also felt in neighboring Venezuela, which is still recovering from a deadly double earthquake on June 24.

In a national address, Colombia’s president, Abelardo de la Espriella, stated, “The national government has all of its capabilities deployed to protect lives, assist affected communities and deliver aid wherever it is needed. The first priority is rescuing the people trapped under the rubble.” He emphasized his commitment to helping Colombians during this difficult time.

The US and Colombian geological surveys confirmed the earthquake’s magnitude and location. Rescue and relief operations are ongoing.

Other news reported by Guardian US on the same day includes claims that former US President Donald Trump left Turkey on a secret military flight to Britain last month due to an Iranian assassination threat, and that Trump Media & Technology reported $238 million in losses for the quarter ending June 2026. Additionally, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared his views on AI regulation amid ongoing Silicon Valley debates.

Sources