On Monday, August 10, 2026, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, the strongest recorded in the country in a decade. Its epicenter was near San José del Palmar in the Chóco region. As of August 13, at least 281 people had died, nearly 4,000 were injured, and hundreds remained missing. President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national emergency and appealed for humanitarian aid.
The damage has been vast: more than 12,000 homes destroyed, over 74,000 more damaged, and more than 170 buildings collapsed. Roads, bridges, airports and aqueducts across the region were hit. Some of the hardest-hit areas are the cities of Pereira in the Chóco region and Cali in the Valle del Cauca area, where rescue teams worked around the clock to find survivors. The quake was felt across Colombia and in neighboring Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama.
We invite you to donate directly to the official relief organizations below, and please dedicate a prayer to all the victims of the earthquake.
