OFFICIAL
Earthquake
Colombia (Update)
On 13 August 2026, Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD, per its acronym in Spanish) provided updated information on the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the country on 10 August 2026, with its epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó. According to the report, the earthquake resulted in 273 deaths, 3,824 injuries, and 377 missing persons. A total of 40,753 families, comprising 97,515 people, were affected. The earthquake also destroyed 12,584 homes and damaged 74,873 others. Additionally, 172 buildings collapsed, 2,198 educational facilities were affected, and 216 health facilities sustained some level of damage. Damage to aqueducts, bank branches, and five airports was also reported. Information available from: UNGRD.
UNOFFICIAL
Wildfire
Colombia
On 13 August 2026, a media report provided information on wildfires affecting San Luis municipality in Tolima department. According to the report, the fires burned more than 600 hectares of vegetation and crops over the preceding 48 hours, reaching homes and a cemetery in the tourist area of Payandé. The fires were concentrated in the villages of Tomogó, Meseta, Cañadas, San Cayetano, Ciruelos, Guayabito, La Flor, and Payandé. High temperatures associated with El Niño and winds reaching 30 km/h contributed to the reactivation of previously contained fire fronts. A census of the affected population had not yet been conducted, as response efforts remained focused on protecting residents. The event occurred amid a broader wildfire emergency in Tolima department, where more than 2,000 hectares had burned in recent weeks and 36 active fires were reported. The report is available from: Pulzo.