On August 10, a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia, with its epicentre near San José del Palmar in Chocó. The earthquake measured up to magnitude 7.4 and caused severe damage across Chocó, Valle del Cauca and the Coffee Region.
As of August 12, at least 285 people have died, nearly 4,000 have been injured and around 400 remain missing. Thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed. Landslides, damaged bridges and power outages are making isolated communities particularly difficult to reach.
These figures will continue changing as assessments come in. Read the latest situation report.
Where your donation can help immediately
These organizations are already working in Colombia:
- Colombian Red Cross: The strongest choice for supporting Colombian emergency responders directly. Teams are providing first aid, search-and-rescue support, shelter, water and other essentials. Select the earthquake donation campaign on its official website.
- World Central Kitchen: A good choice if you want to provide food immediately. Its teams and Colombian partners are already cooking and distributing meals in affected communities.
- Direct Relief: Focused on emergency medicines, wound-care supplies, antibiotics and equipment for hospitals and first responders.
- CARE’s Colombia Earthquake Fund: Providing safe water, temporary shelter, hygiene supplies, food and emergency assistance. CARE has operated in Colombia since 1954.
- Save the Children: Supporting children and families with water, food, hygiene kits, safe spaces and mental-health care. Its emergency funding began reaching Colombia within hours of the earthquake.
- GlobalGiving’s Colombia Earthquake Relief Fund: Pools donations and distributes grants to vetted local organizations. This can help smaller community groups reach remote areas.
How to make your donation count
Donate money rather than shipping clothing, food or bottled water. Cash lets organizations purchase what communities actually need, often from Colombian suppliers closer to the disaster zone.
Choose an organization based on the outcome you care about most:
- Immediate local response: Colombian Red Cross
- Hot meals: World Central Kitchen
- Hospitals and medical supplies: Direct Relief
- Water, shelter and essential kits: CARE
- Children and families: Save the Children
- Smaller local organizations: GlobalGiving
Use only official websites. Be cautious with social-media fundraisers, copied bank details and requests sent through WhatsApp. Sadly, scammers arrive almost as quickly as relief workers.
If possible, cover the transaction fee and make your donation specifically to the Colombia earthquake appeal. Even a small contribution can help provide a meal, clean water, medical supplies or a safe place for a displaced family to sleep tonight.
He runs a cultural ecotourism company called Sacred Treks, where he ran some retreats in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and fell in love with this area of Colombia.
You can follow him on Instagram @kaaist
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