Overview
- A magnitude‑7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, flattening buildings in cities including Cali, Pereira and Manizales.
- Official counts reported by the government on August 12–13 list between roughly 239 and 273 dead and between about 3,500 and 3,824 injured as authorities update totals.
- Search‑and‑rescue teams have pulled more than 300 people from rubble so far and continued operations as the critical 72‑hour survival threshold approached on August 13.
- International help has started to arrive with Mexican and El Salvadoran teams and supplies on site and the United States deciding to send personnel, while Colombia deployed military, police, firefighters and volunteers.
- The quake damaged more than 11,000 households and left tens of thousands affected, raising urgent needs for shelter, medical care and repairs and complicating response because many damaged homes were older or poorly built.