Colombia declares emergency as earthquake death toll reaches 111

On August 10, 2026, Colombia declared a national emergency after a powerful earthquake killed at least 111 people. President Abelardo de la Espriella, who had taken office just three days earlier, announced the state of emergency, telling affected citizens, 'You are not alone.' The quake has become the first major crisis for the new president, who is overseeing rescue and recovery efforts. Former President Gustavo Petro, in a separate development, demanded information about a hydroelectric plant and made an enigmatic social media post related to the earthquake.