Totally Fine Foundation · Issue 007 · Aftershocks / Humanitarian

Colombia Chocó Earthquake

Last reviewed · Totally Fine Foundation editorial desk · 8 min

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck San José del Palmar in Colombia's Chocó Department on 10 August 2026. Four days later, OCHA's 18:30 local time snapshot counted 183 aftershocks, 15 departments and 437 municipalities affected, and at least 135,179 people. Housing, critical infrastructure and essential services were reported damaged. Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities were among those affected. The next OCHA flash update was scheduled for Monday, 17 August 2026, according to the update.

Metrics

A 7.4 in Chocó: Aftershocks, Damage, and the Next OCHA Count

The 10 August mainshock in San José del Palmar

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck San José del Palmar in Colombia's Chocó Department on 10 August 2026.

Sources: cec.org.co — SNE Situational Report 003: 10 August 2026 Chocó Earthquake; reliefweb.int — OCHA Colombia Flash Update 006: Earthquake Impact as of 14 August 2026

The 14 August OCHA snapshot: 183 aftershocks, 15 departments, 437 municipalities

As of 14 August 2026 at 18:30 local time, OCHA reported 183 aftershocks. According to the OCHA Colombia and humanitarian-partner flash update, the earthquake had affected 15 departments and 437 municipalities.

Sources: reliefweb.int — OCHA Colombia Flash Update 006: Earthquake Impact as of 14 August 2026

At least 135,179 people affected, according to OCHA

As of 14 August 2026 at 18:30 local time, at least 135,179 people had been affected, according to the OCHA Colombia and humanitarian-partner flash update.

Sources: reliefweb.int — OCHA Colombia Flash Update 006: Earthquake Impact as of 14 August 2026

Housing, critical infrastructure and essential services: the reported damage

Significant damage to housing, critical infrastructure and essential services persisted after the earthquake.

According to the 'Evaluación de daños Colombia' report dated 15 August 2025, the assessment integrated Copernicus EMS Rapid Mapping (EMSR916) and Microsoft AI for Good Lab data through an ArcGIS dashboard and map. The report states that the methodology included collection, cleaning, standardization, spatial integration and analysis of building-level damage information.

The report states that in Cali and Pereira, both data sources were integrated to expand coverage, while in Buenaventura, Quibdó and Istmina, only Copernicus EMS data were used. According to the report, damage classifications were harmonized into a common structure and subjected to spatial and attribute quality controls to identify inconsistencies, duplicates, missing data and discrepancies.

According to ActionAid, Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities in western Colombia that were still responding to the 10 August 2026 earthquake were hit by sudden flooding. ActionAid reported that floodwater entered damaged homes, destroyed food and crops, and killed livestock. In Unión Misará, a community along the Misará River in Medio Baudó, floodwater reportedly swept into homes, leaving residents little time to protect their belongings. A resident reportedly said the water rose into all the houses and that many belongings were lost. Residents reportedly organized to document the damage, seek government assistance, and coordinate a response while assessing the full impact.

The ICRC reported that the August 10 earthquake destroyed or damaged homes, disrupted water supplies, caused landslides on access roads, and damaged some educational institutions in the areas visited, leaving students unable to attend classes. The ICRC also reported that landslides on access roads continue to limit the mobility of some rural communities.

Sources: reliefweb.int — OCHA Colombia Flash Update 006: Earthquake Impact as of 14 August 2026; elespectador.com — El Espectador: Chocó earthquake testimonios and local impact; france24.com — Mayor of epicenter town appeals for aid: 'San José del Palmar and Chocó are also Colombia'

Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities among those affected

Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities were among those affected by the earthquake.

Sources: reliefweb.int — OCHA Colombia Flash Update 006: Earthquake Impact as of 14 August 2026

The next OCHA flash update, scheduled for 17 August

The next update to the OCHA Colombia flash update was scheduled for Monday, 17 August 2026, according to the update.

The ICRC reported that its multidisciplinary teams, working with the Colombian Red Cross, were visiting rural areas of San José del Palmar, Sipí, Nóvita, and Bajo Baudó municipalities in Chocó to assess communities affected by the August 10 earthquake. The ICRC said that despite difficult geographic access, its teams had reached rural areas of Chocó to identify the most urgent needs and guide the humanitarian response. The ICRC also said the affected communities had faced humanitarian consequences of armed conflicts for years.

Sources: reliefweb.int — OCHA Colombia Flash Update 006: Earthquake Impact as of 14 August 2026

Claims and evidence

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck San José del Palmar in Colombia's Chocó Department on 10 August 2026.

Claimant: Sistema Nacional de Emergencias (SNE) and QuakeScan seismic data

Evidence status: confirmed

Counterclaim: No counterclaim documented in registry

Independent assessment: Seismic monitors confirm event parameters

Sources: cec.org.co — SNE Situational Report 003: 10 August 2026 Chocó Earthquake; quakescan.com — QuakeScan seismic entry: magnitude 7.4 near San José del Palmar; reliefweb.int — OCHA Colombia Flash Update 006: Earthquake Impact as of 14 August 2026

As of 14 August 2026 at 18:30 local time, 183 aftershocks had been reported.

Claimant: OCHA Colombia and humanitarian partners flash update

Evidence status: likely

Counterclaim: No alternative count documented in registry

Independent assessment: Figure is provisional and subject to update

Sources: reliefweb.int — OCHA Colombia Flash Update 006: Earthquake Impact as of 14 August 2026

As of 14 August 2026 at 18:30 local time, the earthquake had affected 15 departments and 437 municipalities.

Claimant: OCHA Colombia and humanitarian partners flash update

Evidence status: likely

Counterclaim: No alternative count documented in registry

Independent assessment: Figure is provisional and subject to update

Sources: reliefweb.int — OCHA Colombia Flash Update 006: Earthquake Impact as of 14 August 2026

As of 14 August 2026 at 18:30 local time, at least 135,179 people had been affected.

Claimant: OCHA Colombia and humanitarian partners flash update

Evidence status: likely

Counterclaim: No alternative count documented in registry

Independent assessment: Figure is provisional and subject to update

Sources: reliefweb.int — OCHA Colombia Flash Update 006: Earthquake Impact as of 14 August 2026

Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities were among those affected by the earthquake.

Claimant: OCHA Colombia and humanitarian partners; media reports

Evidence status: confirmed

Counterclaim: No counterclaim documented in registry

Independent assessment: Rights defenders and Defensoría del Pueblo confirm affected communities, with some Indigenous communities incommunicado

Sources: reliefweb.int — OCHA Colombia Flash Update 006: Earthquake Impact as of 14 August 2026; eltiempo.com — Defensoría del Pueblo Alert on Incommunicado Indigenous Communities in Chocó

Significant damage to housing, critical infrastructure and essential services persisted after the earthquake.

Claimant: OCHA Colombia and humanitarian partners; media reports

Evidence status: confirmed

Counterclaim: No counterclaim documented in registry

Independent assessment: Media reports from epicenter and affected areas corroborate damage

Sources: reliefweb.int — OCHA Colombia Flash Update 006: Earthquake Impact as of 14 August 2026; elespectador.com — El Espectador: Chocó earthquake testimonios and local impact; france24.com — Mayor of epicenter town appeals for aid: 'San José del Palmar and Chocó are also Colombia'

The next update to the OCHA Colombia flash update was scheduled for Monday, 17 August 2026.

Claimant: OCHA Colombia flash update

Evidence status: likely

Counterclaim: No counterclaim documented in registry

Independent assessment: Scheduling note only; does not confirm content of next update

Sources: reliefweb.int — OCHA Colombia Flash Update 006: Earthquake Impact as of 14 August 2026

Timeline

  1. — Magnitude 7.4 earthquake strikes San José del Palmar, Chocó

    A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck San José del Palmar in Colombia's Chocó Department on 10 August 2026, as reported by the Sistema Nacional de Emergencias and QuakeScan.

    Sources: cec.org.co — SNE Situational Report 003: 10 August 2026 Chocó Earthquake; quakescan.com — QuakeScan seismic entry: magnitude 7.4 near San José del Palmar

  2. — Earthquake impact status as of 14 August 2026

    As of 14 August 2026 at 18:30 local time, 183 aftershocks had been reported, 15 departments and 437 municipalities were affected, and at least 135,179 people had been affected, according to the OCHA Colombia and humanitarian-partner flash update.

    Sources: reliefweb.int — OCHA Colombia Flash Update 006: Earthquake Impact as of 14 August 2026

  3. — Damage assessment report dated 15 August 2025 describes Colombia damage evaluation

    According to the 'Evaluación de daños Colombia' report dated 15 August 2025, building-level damage was assessed in Cali, Pereira, Buenaventura, Quibdó and Istmina using Copernicus EMS Rapid Mapping and Microsoft AI for Good Lab data.

    Sources: ReliefWeb (OCHA) — ReliefWeb reports ingested by editorial pipeline (2026-08)

  4. — 333 aftershocks reportedly recorded as of 29 September 2026; seismic swarm reportedly active near Istmina

    As of 29 September 2026, 333 aftershocks had reportedly been recorded, concentrated mainly in San José del Palmar, El Litoral del San Juan and Sipí at depths of 70–105 km, with frequency and magnitude reportedly decreasing. Reports also indicate a separate seismic swarm remains active near Istmina, Medio San Juan, Sipí and El Litoral del San Juan. According to the Colombian Geological Survey (SGC), the mainshock was the strongest earthquake recorded in Colombia in the 21st century.

    Sources: ReliefWeb (OCHA) — ReliefWeb reports ingested by editorial pipeline (2026-10)

Open questions

  • Whether the 135,179 affected-people figure will be revised upward in the 17 August OCHA update.
  • How much damage did critical infrastructure and essential services sustain, and how is it spread across the 15 departments?
  • Were Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities displaced, and can they reach assistance?
  • Whether aftershock activity has continued beyond the 183 reported as of 14 August.
  • Whether the 15 departments and 437 municipalities figures include all affected areas or only those reported to OCHA by 14 August.

Source registry

  1. cec.org.co — SNE Situational Report 003: 10 August 2026 Chocó Earthquake; official_position; date not supplied
  2. portal.gestiondelriesgo.gov.co — UNGRD Official Portal; official_position; date not supplied
  3. portal.gestiondelriesgo.gov.co — Government Response Statement: Chocó Earthquake Under President De la Espriella; official_position; date not supplied
  4. reliefweb.int — OCHA Colombia Flash Update 006: Earthquake Impact as of 14 August 2026; humanitarian; 2026-08-15
  5. unocha.org — OCHA Colombia Flash Update 005: Earthquake Impact as of 13 August 2026; humanitarian; date not supplied
  6. reliefweb.int — Project HOPE Situation Report #3 on the Colombia Earthquake, 13 August 2026; humanitarian; 2026-08-17
  7. cruzrojacolombiana.org — Cruz Roja Colombiana: Response Activation After the 7.4 Chocó Earthquake; humanitarian; date not supplied
  8. eltiempo.com — Defensoría del Pueblo Alert on Incommunicado Indigenous Communities in Chocó; human_rights; date not supplied
  9. wola.org — WOLA statement on the 10 August 2026 Chocó earthquake; human_rights; date not supplied
  10. quakescan.com — QuakeScan seismic entry: magnitude 7.4 near San José del Palmar; research; date not supplied
  11. seismosoft.com — Seismosoft preliminary report: 10 August 2026 Colombia earthquake; research; date not supplied
  12. elespectador.com — El Espectador: Chocó earthquake testimonios and local impact; news; date not supplied
  13. elpais.com — Voices from the epicenter: San José del Palmar after the 7.4 quake; news; date not supplied
  14. france24.com — Mayor of epicenter town appeals for aid: 'San José del Palmar and Chocó are also Colombia'; news; date not supplied
  15. apnews.com — AP wire report: magnitude 7.4 quake kills at least 111 in western Colombia; news; date not supplied
  16. eltiempo.com — First images from San José del Palmar: 'The earth opened'; media_archive; date not supplied

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