Colombia quake leaves more than 110 dead – as it happened

The Guardian · 🇬🇧 public United Kingdom · Aug 11, 2026 · 2772 words · By Tom Ambrose; Angus Thomson; Adam Fulton; Lucy Campbell; Thomas Graham; Tom Phillips

Humanitarian Crisis Government response International Aid

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What to know about Humanitarian Crisis

We’re about to wrap up this live coverage of Colombia’s devastating earthquake but you can read an updated full report here – and below is a recap of the day’s news.

Claims checked 18

Techniques found 1

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left10%

Center80%

Right10%

10 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

We’re about to wrap up this live coverage of Colombia’s devastating earthquake but you can read an updated full report here – and below is a recap of the day’s news.

Why it matters

Search and rescue efforts were under way early on Tuesday in dozens of cities and towns in western Colombia after a powerful earthquake struck the region.

Common ground

At least 110 people were killed after the 7.4-magnitude quake struck on Monday morning local time, toppling buildings, damaging hospitals and infrastructure and trapping people beneath the rubble in Colombia’s strongest earthquake this century.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Humanitarian Crisis story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The quake hit the remote Chocó region about 7.30am local time?
How does this story connect Humanitarian Crisis with Government response over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/aug/10/74-magnitude-earthquake-shake…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 18 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 8

check_circle Corroborated 7

verified Verified By Reference 1

help Insufficient Evidence 1

info Single Source 1

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Claim 1: “The quake hit the remote Chocó region about 7.30am local time”

CORROBORATED

Three independent web search results confirm the quake hit the Chocó region at approximately 7:30 AM local time.

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web search NEUTRAL — Tremor struck San Jose del Palmar on Monday: The earthquake struck shortly after 7.30am local time (1.30pm UK time) on Monday and had a magnitude of 7.4, making it Colombia's strongest tremor in the 2…
https://news.sky.com/story/colombia-earthquake-latest-live-d…

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web search NEUTRAL — A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia at 7:30 a.m., killing at least 132 people, injuring more than 500 and causing more than 60 buildings to collapse. The earthquake was also felt in ne…
https://www.tovima.com/society/greek-residents-describe-the-…

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web search NEUTRAL — The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck close to the El Cairo region in San Jose Del Palmar at about 7.30am local time, according to Colombia’s Geological Survey. It hit the Choco province on the country’…
https://metro.co.uk/2026/08/10/powerful-earthquake-rocks-col…

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Claim 2: “The Colombian Geological Service said by late Monday it had recorded 21 aftershocks”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 3: “the initial quake was followed by two aftershocks of 2.8 and 4.8 magnitude.”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web search results specifically mention the aftershocks measured 2.8 and 4.8 magnitude.

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web search NEUTRAL — The quake was followed by two aftershocks measuring 2.8 and 4.8 magnitude. Authorities reported flight suspensions at airports in Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura and Pereira.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20260811/magnitude-74-qua…

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web search NEUTRAL — Colombia’s Geological Service said the earthquake was the strongest recorded in the country in the last decade. The main quake was followed by two aftershocks measuring 2.8 and 4.8 magnitude.
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/colombia-earthquake-…

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web search NEUTRAL — An aftershock of 6.2 was recorded 20 minutes after the initial quake.[17][18] Two more aftershocks of magnitudes 5.4 and 5.6 followed within an hour of the initial quake.[18] The USGS said that "a lar…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Chile_earthquake

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Claim 4: “one of the towers of the neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed and fell on the nave [in Manizales]”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 5: “the city of Pereira, with at least 40 deaths reported; the department of Chocó, with at least 12; and the neighbouring Valle del Cauca department with at least 27, including 15 in Cali”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources report the specific breakdown: 40 dead in Risaralda (Pereira), 27 in Valle del Cauca (Cali), and 12 in Chocó.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 10 August 2026, a Mw 7.4–7.5 earthquake struck the department of Chocó in Colombia, killing at least 331 people, injuring more than 4,600 others, leaving 240 confirmed missing and causing extensive…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Colombia_earthquake

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This article is an alphabetical list of cities and towns in Colombia and their populations, according to the 2005 census. The list is sorted by department first, then by city. Capital cities are displ…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_and_towns_in_Co…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Miss Colombia 2017 was the 64th edition of the Miss Colombia pageant. It was held on March 20, 2017 in Cartagena, Colombia. At the end of the event, Andrea Tovar of Chocó crowned Laura González of Car…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Colombia_2017

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 6: “about 1,600 buildings had been damaged, including at least 61 that completely collapsed.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results explicitly mention that at least 61 buildings collapsed and approximately 1,600 buildings were damaged.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country located in South America, with insular regions in North America. Colombia's mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombia

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Colombia national football team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Colombia), nicknamed Los Cafeteros, represents Colombia in men's international football and is managed by the Federación Colombiana…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombia_national_football_tea…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Colombian conflict (Spanish: Conflicto armado interno de Colombia, lit. 'Colombian internal armed conflict') began on May 27, 1964, and is a low-intensity asymmetric war between the government of …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombian_conflict

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 7: “Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba said 12 people had been killed and 84 injured in the largely rural area [Chocó]”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 8: “the Trump administration would provide $1bn in security assistance to the government of the new rightwing president”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 9: “New president Abelardo de la Espriella – sworn in just days earlier – declared a state of emergency”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia confirms Abelardo de la Espriella is the 36th president of Colombia (sworn in August 7, 2026). Multiple web search results confirm he declared a state of emergency/national disaster following the earthquake.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Presidential elections were held in Colombia on 31 May 2026. Incumbent president Gustavo Petro, elected in 2022, was constitutionally barred from seeking a second term. Abelardo de la Espriella defea…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Colombian_presidential_el…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Abelardo Gabriel de la Espriella Otero (born 31 July 1978) is a Colombian lawyer, businessman, and politician who has served as the 36th president of Colombia since 2026. He is the founder and leader …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abelardo_de_la_Espriella

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Abelardo de la Espriella's inauguration as the 36th President of Colombia took place on Friday, August 7, 2026. It was the 40th Colombian presidential inauguration marking the beginning of his four-ye…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inauguration_of_Abelardo_de_la…

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 10: “Authorities in the cities of Cali, Armenia and Manizales announced curfews”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results or cross-references regarding curfews in Cali, Armenia, and Manizales.

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Claim 11: “flights were suspended at the airports in Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura and Pereira”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 12: “At least 110 people were killed after the 7.4-magnitude quake struck on Monday morning local time”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web search results confirm a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on a Monday, with death tolls reported as 'at least 110' and 'at least 111'.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern is a travel and cuisine television show hosted by Andrew Zimmern on the Travel Channel in the US. The first season began on Monday, February 6, 2007, at 9pm ET/PT. Bi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bizarre_Foods_with_Andrew_Zimm…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — International Workers' Day, also called Labour Day in some countries and often referred to as May Day, is a celebration of labourers, the labour movement and the working class that is marked every yea…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Workers'_Day

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A South American hurricane is a tropical cyclone that affects the continent of South America or its countries. The continent is rarely affected by tropical cyclones, though most storms to hit the area…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_South_America_hurrican…

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 13: “President Abelardo de la Espriella promised 1,000 additional security personnel for the city [Cali]”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 14: “The earthquake comes less than two months after back-to-back quakes devastated parts of Venezuela, killing more than 6,100 people.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 15: “More than 2,700 people had been reported missing by Monday night.”

CORROBORATED

One web search result explicitly states the death toll rose to 254 with 'more than 2,700 missing'. While other sources focus on deaths, this specific figure is reported in the search results.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Colombians (Spanish: Colombianos) are people identified with the country of Colombia. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Colombians, several (or all) of these …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombians

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The president of Colombia (President of the Republic) is the head of state and head of government of Colombia. The president heads the executive branch of the national government and is the commander-…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Colombia

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 16: “Cali authorities said the Petronio Alvarez festival... has been postponed.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 17: “The epicentre was in San Jose Del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people”

CORROBORATED

Confirmed by a cross-reference (EuroNews) and multiple web search results citing the U.S. Geological Survey, placing the epicenter in San Jose Del Palmar with a population of about 4,800.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The epicenter was in San Jose del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the Choco region about 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Bogota, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
https://phys.org/news/2026-08-magnitude-quake-western-colomb…

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web search NEUTRAL — The epicenter was in San Jose Del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the Choco region about 250 miles west of Bogota, the U.S. Geological Survey and Colombia’s counterpart reported.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU6PoOd8kDI

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web search NEUTRAL — The epicenter was in San José del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the Choco region about 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Bogotá, the U.S. Geological Survey and Colombia’s counterpart r…
https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/10/47-dead-and-buildings…

+ 1 more evidence source

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Claim 18: “The US state department announced it would provide $15.5m for emergency shelter, food and other aid.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim is reported by a single cross-reference (Al Jazeera), but no other independent sources in the provided evidence confirm the $15.5m figure.

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cross reference SUPPORTS — the US Department of State announced it would provide $15.5m for emergency shelter, food and other earthquake response aid.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/10/7-4-magnitude-earth…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.