The earthquake of magnitude 7.4 that shook the west of Colombia this Monday, August 10, 2026, occurred at 7:34, local time, and had its epicenter near San José del Palmar, a locality in the department of Chocó located near the border with Valle del Cauca.
The tremor was felt in a large part of the country and caused significant damage in cities such as Pereira, Cali, Manizales, Armenia, and Quibdó. The movement was also perceived in Bogotá and in areas of neighboring countries, especially Panama and Ecuador.
The following maps and graphs explain the main characteristics of the earthquake in Colombia: the exact location of the epicenter, its depth, the intensity of the shaking, the estimated number of people exposed, and its position among the largest earthquakes recorded in the history of the country.
The earthquake, in four data points
A very strong and exceptionally deep shake
The quake occurred at 7:34, Colombian time, near San José del Palmar, in Chocó. The depth helped to cushion the intensity at the surface, but extended the perception of the tremor over a huge area.
Sources: Colombian Geological Service and USGS. The USGS places the revised depth at 107 km; the SGC, at 103 km.
Where it occurred
The epicenter, in western Colombia
Schematic location of the main nearby cities and the area with the highest estimated shaking.
Schematic map of own elaboration. The circles explain the propagation pattern and do not replace the USGS technical ShakeMap.
Exposed population
More than 34 million felt the shake
USGS estimate by intensity on the modified Mercalli scale (MMI).
Source: USGS PAGER / ShakeMap. Rounded values.
Why depth matters
More energy, but much farther from the surface
The Armenia earthquake of 1999 released much less energy, but occurred only 17 kilometers away and was devastating. The one in 2026 originated six times deeper.
The size of the circles approximately represents the magnitude; the magnitude scale is logarithmic. Depth of 2026: USGS. Data from Armenia: USGS historical catalog.
Historical perspective
One of the largest earthquakes recorded in Colombia
The magnitude 7.4 of 2026 only ranks below, among the highlighted major precedents, the Tumaco earthquake of 1979 and the great quake off the coast in 1906.
Source: significant earthquake catalog of the USGS. The comparison selects relevant episodes and does not constitute an exhaustive list.
Intensity scale
What a VII intensity means
| MMI Intensity | Shake | Estimated population | Expected damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| VII | Very strong | 1.56 million | Moderate damage; vulnerable buildings may suffer significant damage |
| VI | Strong | 8.89 million | Light damage; falling objects and cracks in weak constructions |
| V | Moderate | 17.08 million | Very light damage; movement is widely perceived |
| IV | Light | 6.47 million | No probable damage |
Intensity describes the effects of the shake in each place; it is not the same as magnitude, which measures the total size of the earthquake.
Where was the epicenter of the earthquake in Colombia
The Colombian Geological Service located the focus of the earthquake at an approximate depth of 103 kilometers, while the United States Geological Survey, the USGS, calculated it at 107 kilometers.
The area is close to the so-called Coffee Axis and to densely populated urban centers such as Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, and Cali. This proximity helps explain why, despite being a deep earthquake, the shaking caused significant damage in various cities.
The map above shows the approximate position of the epicenter and its relation to the main affected localities in western Colombia.
How many people were exposed to the earthquake
USGS estimates indicate that more than 34 million people were exposed to some degree of shaking. Most experienced intensities ranging between levels IV and VI on the modified Mercalli scale.
Around 1.56 million people were exposed to an intensity VII, considered "very strong" and capable of causing moderate damage, especially in vulnerable buildings. Another 8.89 million endured an intensity VI, corresponding to a strong shaking, while approximately 17 million were subjected to an intensity V.
Intensity does not measure the total size of the earthquake, but rather the effects it produces in each location. Therefore, the same shaking can have very different consequences depending on the distance to the epicenter, the type of soil, and the resistance of the buildings.
Why the depth of the earthquake was so important
One of the keys to understanding the earthquake in Colombia is its depth. The quake originated more than 100 kilometers below the surface, a considerable distance that allowed part of the energy to dissipate before reaching inhabited areas.
Deep earthquakes usually cause shaking that is felt over very wide territories, although the maximum intensity at the surface may be lower than that caused by a similar magnitude shallow earthquake.
The comparison with the Armenia earthquake of 1999 helps to understand this difference. That quake had a magnitude of 6.2, much lower than that of the 2026 earthquake, but it occurred only 17 kilometers deep and left enormous destruction in the Coffee Axis.
The 2026 earthquake released much more energy, but its focus was located approximately six times deeper.
One of the strongest earthquakes in the history of Colombia
The magnitude 7.4 makes the earthquake of August 2026 one of the largest recorded in Colombia in recent decades.
To find an earthquake of greater magnitude, one must go back to the Tumaco earthquake of 1979, which reached a magnitude of 7.7. The largest precedent in the historical catalog corresponds to the great earthquake of 1906 off the coasts of Colombia and Ecuador, with a magnitude of 8.8.
The magnitude, however, does not solely determine the severity of an earthquake. The depth, proximity to cities, population density, quality of constructions, and characteristics of the terrain condition the final number of victims and the extent of the damages.
Colombia is located in a zone of high seismic activity due to the interaction of the Nazca, South American, and Caribbean plates. The Colombian Geological Service records thousands of seismic movements every month, although the vast majority are small or do not reach being perceived by the population.