Information verified as of August 10, 2026. This is a developing situation: casualty figures, the list of affected airports, and reopening times are changing through the day. Always confirm your flight status with the airline before heading to the airport.
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on the morning of Monday, August 10, 2026, damaging infrastructure at several airports across the Coffee Region, Chocó, and Valle del Cauca. Colombia's civil aviation authority, Aerocivil, suspended commercial operations at seven terminals while structural inspections are completed.
What happened
According to the Colombian Geological Service, the quake was recorded at 7:34 a.m. local time, with a magnitude of 7.4 and a depth of 96 kilometers. The epicenter was located in the municipality of San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó, in the Pacific region.
Because of its intermediate depth, the earthquake was felt across a very wide area: disaster management authorities reported that it was felt in nine departments and in all 32 departmental capitals, including Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali, prompting precautionary building evacuations in several cities. The USGS issued an orange alert for potential losses.
Authorities confirmed fatalities and injuries, with official figures rising through the day. The mayor of Pereira reported deaths in his city, three of them at Matecaña Airport itself, and fatalities were also reported in Manizales and in Valle del Cauca. These tallies are provisional and should not be treated as final figures.
Airports with suspended operations
Aerocivil confirmed the temporary suspension of commercial operations at the following terminals:
| Airport | City | Code | Reported situation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matecaña | Pereira | PEI | Severe damage; partial collapse of the passenger terminal ceiling |
| El Edén | Armenia | AXM | Damage to windows and structural elements |
| La Nubia | Manizales | MZL | Damage under assessment |
| El Caraño | Quibdó | UIB | Damage under assessment |
| Santa Ana | Cartago | CRC | Damage under assessment |
| Gerardo Tovar López | Buenaventura | BUN | Damage under assessment |
| Alfonso Bonilla Aragón | Cali / Palmira | CLO | Commercial operations halted during inspection |
In a later report, Aerocivil indicated that more than ten airports experienced some form of damage or operational restriction. At the suspended terminals, only medical flights and state aviation were authorized while checks continue.
Separately, Popayán (PPN) airport remains under restrictions due to ash emissions from the Puracé volcano, a cause unrelated to the earthquake that is worth keeping distinct when reviewing the day's notices.
Airports operating normally
The country's main international gateways reported no structural damage:
- Bogotá – El Dorado (BOG): operating normally. Bogotá's city government reported no structural damage in the city.
- Medellín – José María Córdova (MDE): no damage reported.
This matters because most international connections to and from Colombia, including routes between Colombia and Venezuela, are funneled through El Dorado. Even so, a flight can still be affected indirectly if aircraft or crews are left out of position by the closures in other cities.
What a "suspension" actually means
A suspension after an earthquake is not the same as a destroyed terminal. It is a standard safety protocol: after an event of this magnitude, the aviation authority must rule out damage to runways, taxiways, the control tower, the passenger terminal, and critical systems before authorizing takeoffs and landings.
That is why reopening times vary between airports: a terminal with visible roof damage, such as Matecaña, requires a longer assessment than one where the inspection is purely precautionary.
Airline measures for affected passengers
Avianca and Latam activated flexibility policies. The announced conditions are:
| Airline | Scope | Free options |
|---|---|---|
| Avianca | Domestic flights within Colombia on August 10, 2026 | Rebook up to 15 days after the original date with no penalty or fare difference; change destination under the same terms (ground transport to the new destination is the passenger's responsibility); or request a refund under the airline's procedures |
| Latam | Flights between August 10 and 16, 2026 to or from Pereira, Cali, and Armenia | Date or flight change with no fees or fare difference; refund with no additional charges; route change subject to availability in the same cabin |
Avianca specified that the measure covers both the outbound and return legs, even if they were issued separately, provided the airline operates both. Latam enabled requests through latam.com, its app, the phone line 601 518 5800, and WhatsApp +56 9 68250850, and said any subsequent adjustment would be communicated directly to passengers.
These terms may be extended or modified as airport reopenings progress. Always verify the current policy through your airline's official channels before requesting a change.
If you have a flight in the coming days
- Confirm your flight status before leaving: Aerocivil explicitly asked passengers to check with their airline, because itineraries may change without prior notice.
- Do not travel to a suspended terminal: wait for official confirmation that it has reopened.
- Check whether your route touches a closed airport: include layovers and connections, not just your origin and final destination.
- Handle changes through official channels: the airline's app, website, or phone service, where your request is formally recorded.
- Consider alternate routings via Bogotá or Medellín: if your trip cannot be postponed and your destination airport remains closed, weigh ground transport from an operating city.
- Document everything: keep cancellation confirmations, emails, and case numbers for any future claim.
- If your flight is not affected, do not cancel as a precaution: a voluntary cancellation typically forfeits the protections offered by the flexibility policy.
Impact on Colombia–Venezuela routes
Connections between Colombia and Venezuela are concentrated at Bogotá–El Dorado, which is operating normally, so no direct suspension of these routes was reported. The main risk to these itineraries is indirect: aircraft and crew repositioning, congestion as passengers from cancelled flights are rebooked, and possible knock-on delays over the coming days.
If you are traveling between the two countries this week, confirm your flight 24 and 48 hours in advance and allow extra margin on any connection.
The bottom line
The magnitude 7.4 earthquake on August 10 left seven Colombian airports with commercial operations suspended and significant damage at Matecaña (Pereira), while Bogotá and Medellín operate normally. Avianca and Latam enabled free changes and refunds for affected passengers. This is a developing situation: the status of each terminal should be verified on the day of travel.
At CAMF Travel we can help you review your itinerary, assess alternative routings, and understand the options attached to your fare. Message us on WhatsApp with your route, date, and booking reference.