Powerful 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Disrupts Operations at Several Colombian Airports

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, killing at least 132 people and injuring hundreds more, according to the most recent figures, while also disrupting operations at seven Colombian airports. Casualty figures are still being revised upward as search and rescue operations continue; the aviation disruption is a secondary consequence of what is primarily a deadly natural disaster, described by Colombia's Geological Service as the strongest quake to hit the country this century.

Airports Affected

The earthquake suspended commercial operations at seven airports in western Colombia: Matecaña International Airport in Pereira, along with airports in Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura, and Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Cali, added to the list after inspections found damage requiring further evaluation. At Matecaña, the terminal building itself was partially damaged. Major hub airports elsewhere in the country, including in Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartagena, were not reported among those affected.

Control tower personnel evacuated their posts as the tremor shook buildings, pausing takeoffs and landings, and passengers inside terminals were guided to open areas under established emergency procedures. Aerocivil, Colombia's civil aviation authority, deployed firefighters, search and rescue teams, and technical staff to inspect terminals and airside infrastructure before authorizing flights to resume at facilities found safe.

Airlines adjusted schedules accordingly: Avianca waived change fees for domestic flights on the day of the quake, LATAM Airlines Colombia extended a travel waiver through August 16 for Cali, Pereira, and Armenia routes, and Wingo allowed penalty-free changes. Travelers were urged to check directly with airlines, as knock-on delays were expected to continue for hours after operations resumed.

Origin of the Earthquake

The epicenter was located near San José del Palmar in Colombia's Chocó Department, roughly 240 to 280 kilometers (150 to 174 miles) west of Bogotá. Agencies reported slightly different depth figures in the hours after the event with Colombia's Servicio Geológico Colombiano at 96 km, and the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre at 95 km with a slightly lower 7.2 magnitude – typical of early-hours discrepancies as data accumulates. That depth is thought to explain why shaking was felt so widely, reaching an estimated 34 million people across Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela.

Colombia sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, at the boundary where the Nazca and South American plates meet. The quake struck less than seven weeks after a pair of earthquakes killed more than 6,000 people in neighboring Venezuela in late June. Bogotá felt the tremor strongly, though its mayor reported no injuries or major damage there, unlike in the harder-hit western provinces.

Human and Passenger Impact

At least 132 people have died and 570 have been injured, per the Colombian Association of Capital Cities, including 60 deaths in Pereira alone – up from an earlier presidential figure of 111 dead and 87 injured, underscoring how quickly these numbers are rising. 

At least 86 buildings have collapsed nationwide, roughly 1,600 have been damaged, and at least 188 people remain missing in Cali. President Abelardo de la Espriella, sworn in just a day before the quake, declared a state of emergency and said he had taken personal charge of the response. These figures should be treated as provisional given how rapidly they are being revised.

Separately, thousands of travelers faced delays from the airport shutdowns, with backlogs and rebooking extending to connecting flights within Colombia and internationally. Anyone with upcoming travel through the affected airports should check status directly with their airline.

Broader Implications

While aviation disruption is one visible effect, the earthquake's primary impact has been human: well over 100 deaths and rising, hundreds injured, and widespread building collapse across several cities – a scale that sets this event apart from a routine airport disruption story. 

It also underscores the seismic risk facing countries along the Pacific Ring of Fire, arriving weeks after the far deadlier Venezuela earthquakes. Updates on the death toll, damage, and airport recovery timelines are expected as authorities continue their assessment.