Situation Report: M7.4 Chocó Earthquake - October 14, 2026
65 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 Summary - October 14, 2026, 18:05
65 days have passed since the magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Chocó department on August 10, 2026. Official casualty figures remain unchanged: 326 people dead, 4600 injured, and 234 people missing.
Seismic Activity
For the first time in weeks, no aftershocks were recorded in the last 24 hours, according to data from the United States Geological Survey. This absence of seismic activity represents a positive signal in the evolution of the seismic event. The strongest aftershock recorded since the main earthquake continues to be magnitude 4.5.
The region has experienced a gradual decrease in the frequency and intensity of aftershocks during recent weeks, suggesting progressive stabilization of tectonic activity in the affected zone.
Infrastructure Damage
Documented material damage remains at 10677 homes destroyed and 65841 homes damaged. Additionally, 127 buildings collapsed throughout the affected region. The total number of people affected remains at 185500.
Authorities continue working on structural assessments of buildings in urban and rural areas, prioritizing resident safety before authorizing returns to homes with minor damage.
Recovery Efforts
More than two months after the disaster, reconstruction efforts advance on multiple fronts. Humanitarian organizations, including the Colombian Red Cross, continue providing assistance to affected communities.
National and local authorities maintain active emergency response protocols while implementing medium and long-term recovery programs. The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management coordinates inter-institutional actions.
Missing Persons
Search efforts for the 234 people still missing continue, though with less intensity than in the weeks immediately following the earthquake. Families can report or search for information about missing persons through specialized platforms such as colombiatebusca.com.
Official Information
For technical information about the seismic event, consult the USGS executive report. Official updates from the Colombian government are available on the Presidency of the Republic website.
The absence of aftershocks in the last 24 hours offers respite to affected communities, though authorities maintain seismic monitoring and recommend the population remain prepared for possible future events.
