Situation Report: M7.4 Chocó Earthquake - 68 days after
68 days after the August 10, 2026 earthquake, official figures report 326 deaths, 4600 injured, and 234 missing. Seismic activity continues with 2 aftershocks in the last 24 hours, reaching magnitude 4.5.
General Situation
68 days have passed since the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the department of Chocó on August 10, 2026. Consolidated official figures report 326 deaths, 4600 injured, and 234 missing persons. The earthquake has affected 185500 people across 30 municipalities in the region.
Infrastructure Damage
Structural damage assessments continue to show the devastating impact of the seismic event. 10677 homes have been destroyed and 65841 homes damaged throughout the affected area. Additionally, 127 buildings collapsed during the main earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.
Structural evaluation teams continue working on building inspections in the most affected municipalities, prioritizing critical infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and government buildings.
Recent Seismic Activity
Aftershock activity continues in the region, although with less frequency than in the weeks immediately following the main event. In the last 24 hours, 2 aftershocks have been recorded, with a maximum magnitude of 4.5.
The most recent aftershocks include: - A magnitude 4.4 earthquake 10 km southwest of El Cerrito in the early hours of today - A magnitude 4.5 event 51 km east-southeast of Juradó yesterday afternoon
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) continues to monitor seismic activity in the region. Experts remind the population that aftershocks can continue for months after an earthquake of this magnitude.
Recovery Efforts
National and local authorities maintain active humanitarian assistance and reconstruction programs. The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management coordinates recovery efforts across the 30 affected municipalities.
The Colombian Red Cross continues providing support on the ground, while international organizations such as the World Food Programme maintain food assistance operations in the most affected areas.
Information for Families
Families seeking information about missing persons can consult the portals colombiatebusca.com and desaparecidos.co, which maintain updated databases.
Recommendations
Authorities reiterate the following recommendations for the population:
- Keep emergency kits prepared with water, non-perishable food, medications, and important documents - Identify safe zones inside and outside homes - Stay alert to official communications from local authorities - Report any new structural damage to competent authorities - In case of feeling a strong aftershock, apply the protocol: drop, cover, and hold on
For more information about the main earthquake, consult the USGS event page.
