Situation Report: M7.4 Chocó Earthquake — 68 days later
68 days after the August 10, 2026 earthquake, official figures report 326 deaths, 4600 injured, and 234 missing. 1 aftershock was recorded in the last 24 hours with a maximum magnitude of 4.5. Reconstruction continues across 30 affected municipalities.
General situation — October 17, 2026
68 days have passed since the magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the department of Chocó and surrounding regions on August 10, 2026. Official figures remain at 326 deaths, 4600 injured, and 234 missing. A total of 185500 people have been affected by the earthquake across 30 municipalities.
Recent seismic activity
In the last 24 hours, 1 aftershock was recorded, with a maximum magnitude of 4.5. The event occurred 51 km east-southeast of Juradó on October 16. Although seismic activity has decreased significantly since the weeks immediately following the main earthquake, authorities from the Colombian Geological Service continue monitoring the region and remind the population that aftershocks may continue for months.
Infrastructure damage
Official data indicates that 10677 homes were destroyed and 65841 were damaged by the earthquake. Additionally, 127 buildings collapsed in the most affected areas. Reconstruction efforts are progressing gradually, although rural and remote communities in Chocó face significant logistical challenges in accessing materials and technical assistance.
Risk management authorities coordinate with municipal and departmental governments to prioritize the reconstruction of housing and critical infrastructure, including schools, health centers, and access roads.
Humanitarian response
The Colombian Red Cross maintains field operations, providing assistance to displaced and affected families. The United Nations in Colombia and the World Food Programme continue supporting the distribution of humanitarian aid in the most remote areas.
People seeking information about missing relatives can consult the portals colombiatebusca.com and desaparecidos.co.
Government measures
The national government maintains special fiscal and customs support measures to facilitate the arrival of humanitarian aid and reconstruction materials, as established in Ministry of Finance documents.
The Presidency of the Republic coordinates with territorial entities to ensure continuity of medium and long-term assistance programs.
Seismological information
For detailed technical information about the main event, consult the USGS executive report. Aftershock data is available through the USGS FDSN query system.
