A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, August 10th, 2026, resulting in more than 200 deaths and injuring over 2,500 people, according to UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, who briefed journalists in New York. The quake severely damaged homes and public infrastructure, particularly in areas around Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdo, where ongoing disruptions to communications, transport, and public services are hampering relief efforts.

Humanitarian assessments are underway, with UNICEF’s Country Representative Tanya Chapuisat highlighting the growing risks faced by children whose homes and schools have been damaged amid disrupted essential services. UNICEF has mobilized an early response in the Chocó and Buenaventura regions along the Pacific coast—the earthquake’s epicenter—providing family hygiene kits, maternal care kits, menstrual kits, and water storage tanks. So far, 22,000 people in these areas have been reached.

Colombia was already grappling with a complex humanitarian crisis due to ongoing conflict and climate shocks before the earthquake. The World Food Programme’s Deputy Country Director Giulia Baldi noted that relief stocks are positioned close to affected areas to enable rapid response, with additional supplies accessible through regional and global networks. She emphasized the critical importance of the first 72 hours post-earthquake for search and rescue operations and for delivering food and relief supplies before needs escalate.

Rescue teams continue to search through rubble in the hardest-hit cities, with survivors of all ages still being pulled alive from debris. The mayor of Cali stressed that "every minute is vital" in these efforts.

The UN is continuing to scale up assistance to support affected communities as essential services are restored and further assessments proceed.

Sources