Rescuers work at a collapsed building after an earthquake in the city of Manizales, Colombia, Aug. 10, 2026. The death toll from a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday has risen to 111 nationwide, with 87 others injured, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said in Bogota. (COLPRENSA/Handout via Xinhua)

In a post published on its official WeChat public account, the Chinese Embassy in Colombia said it attaches great importance to the safety of Chinese nationals in Colombia and activated its emergency response mechanism immediately to conduct a comprehensive check on the impact of the disaster on Chinese nationals. 

The powerful earthquake killed more than 200 people, according to estimates from local authorities, per Reuters.

According to the Colombian Geological Service, the quake struck at 7:34 am local time on Monday. Its epicenter was near San Jose del Palmar, in the department of Choco, at a depth of 96 kilometers, Xinhua reported. 

A total of 86 buildings had collapsed, while operations at seven airports had been suspended due to quake-related damage, per Xinhua.

According to the preliminary report, 32 cities across the country have been seriously affected, while five departmental capitals - Pereira, Cali, Quibdo, Manizales and Armenia - remain under red alert. 

Pereira reported 60 deaths, followed by Cali with 15, Quibdo with eight and Manizales with four, the report said, per Xinhua.

So far, no information about Chinese casualties has been received, the embassy said.

The Chinese Embassy in Colombia on Tuesday also reminded Chinese nationals in Colombia to stay highly vigilant against secondary earthquake hazards, including aftershocks and public health risks. It also advised those encountering emergencies to promptly contact local police and reach out to the embassy for assistance. 

The Colombian government earlier Monday declared a state of national disaster to respond to the impact of the earthquake, Xinhua reported.

The quake comes less than two months after twin quakes devastated the north of Venezuela, killing more than 6,300 people, the BBC reported on Tuesday. The report said, "it is one of its largest earthquakes in years."

Global Times