Situation Report: M7.4 Chocó Earthquake - October 5, 2026

56 days after the August 10 earthquake, official figures remain at 326 deaths, 4600 injured, and 234 missing. No aftershocks were recorded in the last 24 hours, indicating continued decline in seismic activity.

Situation Overview

56 days have passed since the magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Chocó department on August 10, 2026. As of October 5, official figures remain stable with 326 people deceased, 4600 injured, and 234 missing. The humanitarian crisis continues to affect approximately 185500 people in the region.

Seismic Activity

No aftershocks were recorded in the last 24 hours, marking a significant period of seismic calm. This absence of activity represents a positive trend in the stabilization of the region. Since the main shock, the strongest aftershock recorded reached a magnitude of 4.5.

Seismic activity continues to be monitored by the USGS and the Colombian Geological Service.

Infrastructure Damage

Documented material damages include:

- 10677 homes destroyed - 65841 homes damaged - 127 buildings collapsed

These figures reflect the magnitude of the impact on the region's housing infrastructure, particularly in rural areas and the most vulnerable communities of Chocó.

Recovery Efforts

Search and rescue operations have concluded, and efforts now focus on the long-term recovery phase. National and local authorities continue coordinating humanitarian assistance for affected communities.

The Colombian Red Cross maintains its presence on the ground, providing ongoing support to displaced and affected families. International organizations such as the World Food Programme and Direct Relief continue their assistance programs.

Missing Persons

The 234 people who remain missing can be reported or searched for through the platforms colombiatebusca.com and desaparecidos.co.

Official Resources

For updated official information:

- National Unit for Disaster Risk Management - Presidency of the Republic - United Nations in Colombia - USGS - Event Page

The reconstruction of affected communities continues to be a priority for Colombian authorities, with focus on permanent housing solutions and strengthening resilient infrastructure for future seismic events.

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National emergency in progress

Colombia
Earthquake August 10, 2026

Magnitude 7.4 with epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó — the strongest earthquake felt in Colombia this century. Help the victims, stay informed with daily-verified data, and help find missing people.

Information changes every hour

This is an ongoing disaster. All figures are provisional and refresh automatically at 6:00 AM Bogotá time from 34 official, humanitarian, and press sources. You'll see differences between UNGRD, Asocapitales, and Medicina Legal flagged plainly — that's the nature of the crisis, not a bug.

Disaster timeline

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  • August 13, 2026, 72 hours after the quake (Colombia time) · Aid

    Chocó, 72 hours after the earthquake, declares itself "in crisis but more stable"

  • August 13, 2026 (Colombia time) · Aid

    Al Jazeera documents how Colombian hospitals adapt to save lives despite damage

  • August 13, 2026, 9:30 a.m. (Colombia time) · Official

    UNGRD reports 281 dead, 3,971 injured, and 379 missing

Photo gallery

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Debris from several buildings in Colombia after the August 10, 2026 earthquake.Debris in Manizales, Caldas, after the August 10, 2026 earthquake.Debris of a building in Pereira, Risaralda, after the August 10, 2026 earthquake.Debris of a building after the August 10, 2026 earthquake in Colombia.

14 affected departments

The quake was felt in all 32 departmental capitals. These are the 14 with confirmed damage. Tap a department to see details.

Hospital status

Facilities with structural damage, evacuated, or operating on red alert. Sources: mayor's offices, health secretariats, verified press.