DESTRUCTIVE M7.4 Earthquake struck on Monday Morning near Pereira in Colombia.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on August 10th, 2026. Last updated September 9th, 2026.

Under land 58 kilometer from Pereira in Colombia, a DESTRUCTIVE and very strong Magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurred in the morning of Monday August 10th, 2026. Earthquakes this strong in locations like this are likely to cause a high number of fatalities and likely to have a large economic impact.

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Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Colombia, 58 kilometer (36 mi) west of Pereira in Risaralda. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 108 km.

Date and Time:	Aug 10, 2026 07:34AM (Bogota Time) - Aug 10, 2026 12:34 Universal Time.
Location:	58 km west of Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia. Coordinates 4°53'1"N 76°13'6"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 7.4 Detected by 325 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.026 .
Depth:	108 km (67 mi) An intermediate depth.
Max. Intensity:	IX Violent On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely While a very strong earthquake, it appears to have occurred under land. Always stay cautious - More info here.

High fatalities and economic impact

The US Geographic Survey (USGS) describes the impact of this earthquake as follows:

At least 331 persons killed in the Caldas-Choco-Risaralda-Valle del Cauca area. At least 4,611 injured and 240 missing; 31,540 homes destroyed and 178,555 damaged, 603 buildings destroyed throughout Colombia. At least 10 airports damaged including the Armenia, Buenaventura, Cartago, Manizales and Quibdo airports. Landslides occurred in Choco and in Valle del Cauca.

Based on scientific estimates by the USGS, the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level RED (high). They expect an 33% likelyhood of between 1,000 and 10,000 fatalities, and a 93% chance that the number of fatalities falls between 10 and 100,000.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level RED (high). They expect an 33% likelyhood of between 1,000 and 10,000 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls between 100 and 10,000,000 million USD.

Roughly 35 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 35 million people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is VIII, which corresponds with severe shaking and likely moderate to heavy damage. Roughly 1,648,000 people are expected to be exposed to this level. Intensity level V was experienced by a large group of people (around 14 million). In their region, moderate shaking and very light damage can be expected.

People in 3 countries have been exposed to shaking. Roughly 35 million people were exposed to shaking in Colombia , with level VIII (severe shaking, likely moderate to heavy damage) as the highest recorded. A smaller number of people were exposed in the following countries: Panama and Ecuador.

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in Colombia . Located 37 kilometer (23 mi) west of the epicenter of this earthquake, La Virginia (Risaralda, Colombia) is the nearest significant population center. The intensity of shaking and damage in La Virginia is estimated to be around level VIII on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (severe shaking, likely moderate to heavy damage).

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Bogotá is located 239 km to the east and experienced an intensity of V (moderate shaking, very light damage). Cali is located 164 km to the south and experienced an intensity of VII (very strong shaking, likely moderate damage). Medellín is located 169 km to the north-east and experienced an intensity of V (moderate shaking, very light damage).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is VIII. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Shaking reported by 1224 people in 9 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 1224 people have reported shaking in 224 places in 9 countries (Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil, Jamaica, Dominican Republic).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia: 183 people.
• Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia: 67 people.
• Envigado, Antioquia, Colombia: 60 people.
• La Calera, Cundinamarca, Colombia: 60 people.
• Panamá, Panamá, Panama: 58 people.
• Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia: 55 people.
• Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador: 54 people.
• Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia: 42 people.
• San Miguelito, Panamá, Panama: 32 people.
• Itagüí, Antioquia, Colombia: 27 people.

2 Aftershocks detected

This main shock was followed by 2 smaller aftershocks. Just 2 hrs after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-4.3 was detected 14 km (9 mi) north of this earthquake.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

More earthquakes coming?

The risk of aftershocks decreases rapidly over time. Usually, aftershocks are at least one order of magnitude lower than a main shock.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

This is an unusually powerful earthquake

No earthquake of this strength has struck this region for a long time. Our data goes back 10 years, and no earthquakes measuring a magnitude of 7.4 or higher have been detected within 300 km (186 mi) of this epicenter.

Tsunami very unlikely

While MAG-6.5+ earthquakes may cause tsunami's, it appears that the epicenter of this earthquake hit inland, more than 100 km away from coastal areas. In addition, the reported depth is deeper than 100km, making the risk at a tsunami even less likely. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Sources

Last updated 09/09/26 00:38 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us6000tjl2
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20260810_0000177
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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