Wednesday, August 12, 2026

U.S. issues disaster alert to citizens amid Colombia quake

As of Tuesday, at least 200 people have died, and 3,000 are missing in the wake of the quake.

• August 12, 2026
Colombia quake
Colombia quake[Credit: Reuters]

The U.S. embassy in Colombia on Tuesday released a natural disaster alert after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit the country, causing hundreds of deaths and massive disruption across the country.

In a natural disaster alert issued on Tuesday, the embassy said, “The earthquake was felt in cities across the country as well as in Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru. Multiple cities have sustained damage to buildings, infrastructure, and roads. Over 164 people have been killed, and scores have been injured.”

Colombia declared a natural disaster and is deploying first responders to the most affected areas, while currently experiencing widespread power, cell phone, and internet outages, making communication difficult, according to the alert.

The embassy warned about flight cancellations and airport shutdowns in affected areas in the country, disclosing that the airport in Pereira “is closed due to damage from the earthquake”.

“Commercial flights at the airports in Cartago, Buenaventura, and Manizales are suspended,” the alert stated. “El Caraño Airport in Quibdó, El Edén International Airport in Armenia, Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Cali, Rionegro International Airport in Medellín, and El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá are open to commercial flights, but delays should be expected.”

For those considering overland routes, the embassy warned of likely landslides, warning that infrastructure throughout the affected region has been badly damaged, including roads, tunnels, and bridges.

As of Tuesday, at least 200 people have died, and 3,000 are missing in the wake of the quake.

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