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Colombia earthquake appeal · Published 10 August 2026 · Updated 21 August 2026
Community members and civilian responders coordinate water, blankets and essential supplies beside earthquake-damaged homes in western Colombia

Stand with earthquake-affected families

At least 319 people have died in the Colombia earthquake

About 4,500 people are injured and 260 remain missing as families face unsafe homes, disrupted services and a long recovery across western Colombia.

Support the emergency campaign

Crisis timeline

How the earthquake and response have developed

For the full humanitarian picture and latest qualified figures, read our Colombia earthquake news report.

  1. Thirty-day emergency declaration begins

    The provisional balance reaches 319 deaths, about 4,500 injuries and 260 missing people. Authorities report 153,336 families affected across 476 municipalities in 15 departments.

    Sources: UNGRD and Presidency of Colombia

  2. Humanitarian and reconstruction needs grow

    The reported balance reaches 281 deaths, about 3,900 injuries and 367 missing people. Authorities report 25,872 families affected and plans addressing 44,000 homes.

    Sources: UNGRD and national authorities

  3. Search teams continue beyond the first 72 hours

    Responders keep searching damaged buildings. Officials report 348 people rescued alive while the operation begins shifting toward wider humanitarian support.

    Sources: UNGRD and local authorities

  4. Provisional toll reaches 132 deaths

    Authorities report at least 132 deaths, 570 injuries and more than 1,500 affected homes as searches and structural assessments expand.

    Sources: Government of Colombia and emergency authorities

  5. National disaster response expands

    The government declares a national disaster and establishes coordination posts for rescue, health and damage-assessment operations.

    Source: Government of Colombia

  6. Magnitude 7.4 earthquake strikes western Colombia

    Strong shaking is recorded near San José del Palmar in Chocó. GDACS estimates 5.2 million people were exposed to intensity VII or higher.

    Sources: Servicio Geológico Colombiano and GDACS

Verified emergency facts

The toll is rising while housing assessments continue

Figures reported through 20 August remain provisional as missing-person, hospital and local damage records are reconciled.

319

people reported dead

The provisional balance may change as local records are reconciled.

4,500

people reported injured

An approximate total while health records continue to be consolidated.

153,336

families affected

Reported across 476 municipalities in 15 departments.

Why help matters now

Families need safe shelter, healthcare and reliable access to essentials

People whose homes are damaged or awaiting inspection may need temporary accommodation, food, water, clothing, medicines, transport and clear local information. Families coping with injury, bereavement or missing relatives also face a difficult recovery.

Mountain roads, uneven communications and damaged buildings can slow assessments and assistance. Recovery will require sustained attention to rural communities as well as badly affected urban neighbourhoods.

This AidWorkers.com campaign is independent. Cited organisations are evidence sources and are not presented as partners or recipients of donations to AidWorkers.com.

  • Safe temporary shelter and protection support
  • Trauma care, medicines and continuity of health services
  • Clean water, sanitation and essential household supplies
  • Family reunification and reliable local information
  • Safe access, debris clearance and housing recovery

Donation transparency

What this independent campaign supports

Urgency should never come at the expense of honesty. This page separates verified earthquake evidence from AidWorkers.com's own role.

Your donation can support

  • Monitoring and publishing verified emergency information.
  • Practical crisis, preparedness and field-focused resources.
  • Due diligence, coordination and response-readiness work.
  • Authorised direct or partner support connected to the emergency where feasible and properly controlled.

What we will not imply

  • That AidWorkers.com is part of the Colombian government, Red Cross or a cited organisation.
  • That a gift has reached an affected family or named organisation unless that transfer is confirmed.
  • That provisional casualty, missing-person or housing figures will remain unchanged.

Check the evidence

Sources used for this appeal

Fast-changing figures are dated and qualified. Search, missing-person and damage records can be revised as local information is consolidated.

  • Servicio Geológico ColombianoMagnitude, origin time and location near San José del Palmar · checked 21 August 2026
  • National Unit for Disaster Risk ManagementProvisional casualties, missing people, affected families and response activity · checked 21 August 2026
  • Presidency of ColombiaThirty-day economic, social and ecological emergency declaration · checked 21 August 2026
  • Global Disaster Alert and Coordination SystemEvent date, magnitude, exposure and satellite-response products · checked 14 August 2026
  • Copernicus Emergency Management Service and UNITAR-UNOSATSatellite damage-assessment activations · 14 August 2026
  • La Silla Vacía and EFEIndependent reporting on the latest provisional balance and emergency declaration · checked 21 August 2026
Is this a Colombian government or Red Cross appeal?

No. This is an independent AidWorkers.com campaign. The organisations named above are evidence sources and are not presented as partners or recipients.

Will every donation be sent directly to families in Colombia?

No such claim is made. The campaign supports AidWorkers.com's earthquake-related humanitarian purposes, including verified public information, practical resources, response readiness and authorised direct or partner support where feasible. Any confirmed transfer or delivery should be reported separately and transparently.

Why could the reported figures change?

Searches, hospital records, missing-person reports and structural assessments are still being reconciled. Later official reports can therefore revise casualties, family totals and housing damage.

First published: . Last fact-checked: .

  1. : Appeal first published after the earthquake.
  2. : Casualty, housing and response information updated.
  3. : Deaths, injuries, missing-person figures and recovery needs updated.
  4. : Casualties, affected-family figures and the national emergency declaration updated.