In Pereira, the magnitude 7.4 earthquake of August 10, 2026 left about 80 collapsed structures, according to the Asociación de Ingenieros de Risaralda, and 120,000 people affected, according to the official report of August 18. Two lessons stand out: many buildings from before 1999 that had come through the Coffee Region earthquake well were never strengthened, and the airport had to close because of damage to nonstructural elements.
Having survived is not the same as being sound
The governor of Risaralda explained that many buildings built before 1999 were never strengthened, and that several of those that collapsed had probably not been affected by that year's earthquake (La FM). A building that survives one earthquake is not certified for the next: the 2026 one was different, deep and long, with between 90 seconds and 2 minutes of shaking near the epicenter, and deterioration or accumulated damage may not be visible to the naked eye. Even the Governor's Office building, which had been strengthened, was declared unsafe, and two private clinics had to close.
Nonstructural damage can also close a building
According to the Asociación de Ingenieros de Risaralda, the airport terminal suffered mainly nonstructural damage, to ceilings and interior elements, with no serious structural damage (La FM); even so, a week later it was still closed (Publimetro). The NSR-10 places airports in occupancy group IV and requires a higher performance of their nonstructural elements: minimal damage that does not interfere with operations (A.2.5.1.1 and table A.9.2-1). We explain it in nonstructural elements and occupancy groups.
After the earthquake
A week later only 10% of the city's roughly 180,000 properties had been inspected. The president of the Association, John Henry Mora Galvis, stressed that saving lives means not letting people into buildings that are at risk, and warned that many that did not collapse will have to be repaired or demolished. The repair of earthquake-damaged buildings follows chapter A.10 of the NSR-10, and the assessment must be done by an engineer.
For owners in any city
If your building predates the NSR-10, has never had a vulnerability assessment and has had extensions, changes of use or deterioration, it is worth assessing it before the next earthquake, not after. If it is a clinic, a school or a building that must keep operating, check its nonstructural elements too. See our assessment and retrofit service.
Sources: Risaralda Governor's Office and Asociación de Ingenieros de Risaralda, cited by La FM; UNGRD (national disaster risk management agency), cited by Publimetro (August 18, 2026); Servicio Geológico Colombiano; NSR-10, sections A.2.5, A.9 and A.10. The figures are those reported on those dates and may have changed.
Frequently asked questions
If my building survived the 1999 earthquake, is it safe?
Not necessarily. In Pereira, buildings from before 1999 that had come through that earthquake well, and were never strengthened, collapsed. Only a vulnerability assessment tells you what condition it is in.
Why did the Pereira airport close?
Because of mainly nonstructural damage, to ceilings and interior elements. The NSR-10 requires airports to achieve a higher performance of those elements.
