Colombia Churches Lead Earthquake Relief After 7.4 Magnitude Disaster
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026, killing hundreds and destroying more than 1,100 homes across 16 departments. Churches and ecumenical organizations mobilized quickly, providing food, shelter, and search-and-rescue support to affected communities.
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026, centered near San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó. The quake, described as the strongest in the country in a century, caused damage across 16 departments, killing hundreds and injuring thousands more. Over 1,100 homes were destroyed, with thousands of additional structures damaged.
Churches across Colombia mobilized within hours, often while coping with the loss of their own members and facilities.
In Pereira, the congregation Palabra Pura organized volunteers to assist in search-and-rescue efforts, digging through rubble at collapsed sites. Churches in Cali and Pereira became hubs for aid distribution, with volunteers preparing and delivering meals, including soup, beans, and rice, to displaced families living in tents.
The Church of the Nazarene reported that three of its church buildings were destroyed and numerous others damaged, along with pastoral homes. Despite those losses, the denomination launched emergency projects in Cali, Buenaventura, and the Eje Cafetero district to provide food, hygiene kits, and temporary shelter to hundreds of families.
Send Relief, coordinating with the International Mission Board and local churches from Bogotá, deployed Disaster Assistance Response Teams to the hardest-hit areas of Cali and Pereira. The Presbyterian Church of Colombia and the ACT Alliance Colombia Forum worked to assess needs and coordinate a locally led response.
Catholic Relief Services supported Caritas Colombia's nationwide network to provide shelter, food, and medical care.
Damaged roads, landslides, and recurring interruptions to electricity, water, and gas services complicated recovery efforts. Many pastors and church members lost their own homes yet continued to provide pastoral presence and psychosocial support to their communities. Church leaders say long-term recovery will require rebuilding homes, church buildings, and pastoral residences while continuing to offer spiritual support to those grieving.
