Magnitude 7.4 earthquake kills 111 in Colombia, rescue teams search for survivors under rubble

Earthquake strikes western Colombia

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on the morning of 10 August, with its epicenter located in San José del Palmar, in the Chocó region on the Pacific coast. The tremor was felt across large parts of Colombian territory, including the cities of Bogotá and Cali, and was also felt in neighboring countries such as Ecuador and Venezuela. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Colombian Geological Service (SGC) both placed the epicenter approximately 400 kilometers west of Bogotá, though one Portuguese news report cited a distance of about 300 kilometers. The quake occurred around 7:30 AM local time.

Rising death toll and widespread damage

President Abelardo de la Espriella announced the first official toll at 12:30 local time (18:30 in Lisbon), reporting 111 dead and 87 injured. The previous count from Colombian authorities had registered 71 dead, making this the deadliest earthquake to hit the country in the last decade. The president declared a national catastrophe and assumed coordination of the disaster response, ordering rescue operations for people trapped under rubble as the top priority.

The national government maintains all capacities mobilized to protect life, attend to affected communities, and bring aid to every territory that needs it. As head of state and head of government, I begin by ordering the rescue of the people who are under the rubble. That is the priority, to rescue the people who are still under the rubble.

The damage assessment at 12:30 included 1,575 houses affected, 37 completely destroyed, 61 buildings in ruins, 18 health centers damaged, and 52 educational centers damaged. The earthquake caused material damage, collapses, and power cuts across several regions, with at least five departments affected. Rescue teams were conducting search and salvage operations to locate survivors.

International response and solidarity

EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib expressed solidarity with Colombia and stated that the EU is prepared to provide support. Portuguese President António José Seguro sent a message of condolence and solidarity to the Colombian people. Portugal's Foreign Ministry, led by Paulo Rangel, reported that the most affected zones were Chocó, Cali, and Manizales, while in Bogotá, where most Portuguese residents live, authorities were still assessing material damage.

No Portuguese victims reported

Portugal's Secretary of State for Communities, Emídio Sousa, confirmed that as of the latest information, no Portuguese citizens were among the dead or injured. He noted that the Portuguese community in Colombia is small, with approximately 2,000 registered citizens, many of whom hold acquired nationality. A consular emergency office and WhatsApp groups were set up for reporting cases.

So far, we have no report of any victim injured or dead in the earthquakes. That does not mean it cannot happen, but according to the information we have received from the Colombian authorities and our diplomatic services, for now there is no Portuguese victim.

Benfica expresses solidarity

Portuguese football club Benfica issued a statement of condolence and solidarity, mentioning its Colombian international players Richard Ríos and Jhon Durán. The club, through its Foundation Benfica, offered to help "in everything that is necessary." Midfielder Richard Ríos shared local appeals for help on social media and wrote "much strength to all affected families," while Jhon Durán, on loan from Al Nassr, had not yet spoken publicly about the disaster.