Colombia earthquake: The quakes that killed 70,000 people 158 years ago — all about the devastating 1868 Colombia-Ecuador disaster

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026, killing at least 47 people and causing buildings to collapse across several cities, including Pereira, Manizales and areas of Valle del Cauca. The earthquake was centred near San José del Palmar in the Chocó region, about 400 kilometres west of Bogotá, and occurred at a depth of about 107 kilometres. The powerful tremor was also felt in neighbouring Ecuador and Panama.

The earthquake has also drawn attention to one of the deadliest earthquake disasters in the region. On August 15 and 16, 1868, two major earthquakes struck northern Ecuador near the Colombian border, causing severe destruction in northeastern Ecuador and southwestern Colombia. The events are generally referred to as the 1868 Ecuador earthquakes.

What happened in August 1868?

The first major earthquake struck on August 15, 1868, near El Ángel in Ecuador's Carchi Province, close to the Colombian border. Ecuador's Geophysical Institute estimates that the earthquake had a magnitude of about 6.3.


Another much more destructive earthquake struck in the early hours of August 16, with its epicentre near Ibarra in Ecuador's Imbabura Province. Ecuador's Geophysical Institute estimates the main earthquake at magnitude 7.0 to 7.3, based on the distribution of reported intensities.


The two earthquakes struck within roughly 11 hours, according to the historical earthquake record. The August 16 earthquake devastated Ibarra and caused extensive destruction across Imbabura. Historical accounts also describe severe damage in nearby Otavalo and other communities.

How many people died?

The death toll from the 1868 disaster remains uncertain because records from the period were incomplete. Some historical compilations give a combined figure of up to 70,000 casualties across Ecuador and Colombia, although estimates vary considerably.

The disaster was particularly severe in Ecuador. The country's Geophysical Institute describes the August 16 earthquake as one of the largest earthquakes to have struck continental Ecuador and says it devastated Imbabura Province.

Historical records also describe extensive destruction in Ibarra. Contemporary accounts reported that the city suffered catastrophic damage, while Otavalo was also badly affected. The destruction left communities facing a long process of recovery and reconstruction.

Why is it linked to Colombia?

Although the main earthquake sources were in Ecuador, the shaking extended across the border and caused severe damage in southwestern Colombia. This is why the 1868 earthquake sequence appears in historical accounts of Colombia's major earthquakes.

It is therefore more accurate to describe the event as the 1868 Ecuador earthquakes or Ecuador-Colombia earthquake disaster, rather than simply calling it a Colombia earthquake.

Colombia's history of major earthquakes

Colombia is located in a highly active seismic region and has experienced several destructive earthquakes throughout its history. The country's seismic record includes the 1868 Ecuador-Colombia earthquake disaster, the 1875 Cúcuta earthquake and the 1906 Ecuador-Colombia earthquake.

The 1906 earthquake, which struck offshore near the Ecuador-Colombia region, is estimated to have reached magnitude 8.8, making it one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded.

Today's Colombia earthquake

The latest earthquake struck western Colombia at around 7:34 a.m. local time on August 10, 2026. The epicentre was near San José del Palmar in Chocó, at a depth of about 107 kilometres, according to reports citing the US Geological Survey.

At least 47 people had died in the latest reports, including 18 in Pereira, two in Manizales and 27 in Valle del Cauca. Dozens of buildings were reported to have collapsed or suffered damage, while residents were evacuated from affected areas.


Videos circulating online showed buildings shaking, debris falling and residents rushing into the streets as the earthquake was felt across western and central Colombia.

The 2026 earthquake has brought renewed attention to Colombia's long history of seismic disasters, including the devastating earthquake sequence of August 1868 that affected communities on both sides of the Colombia-Ecuador border.