What you need to know about the earthquake in Colombia

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, killing at least 181 people and injuring over 1,300, with the epicenter in the department of Chocó. Both figures are expected to rise as rescue crews search through the debris of collapsed buildings.

Our teams in Colombia are reporting damage to infrastructure—including hospitals and clinics—along with life-threatening gaps in access to health care, shelter and basic needs.

The full scale of the damage is not yet clear as search and rescue efforts are just beginning. The IRC stands prepared to expand our emergency response operations as conditions require.

What you need to know about the earthquake in Colombia

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, leaving at least 181 people dead and over 1,300 injured. The epicenter was in Chocó, the poorest region in the country. 

IRC field teams near the epicenter are reporting damage to hospitals and clinics, leaving communities without access to health care, shelter, and basic needs. Six airports have been impacted and remain closed.

The earthquake comes on the heels of two powerful earthquakes in neighboring Venezuela earlier this summer, compounding humanitarian needs that were already severe across the region.

Earthquake worsens Colombia’s humanitarian crisis

Prior to the earthquake, over 10 million people in Colombia were projected to need humanitarian assistance. The country featured on the IRC's 2026 Emergency Watchlist, which identifies the crises most at risk of deterioration as escalating conflict continues to displace local communities, as well as many of the nearly 3 million Venezuelans that Colombia hosts.

Chocó, at the epicenter of the quake, is the poorest region in Colombia. The IRC is deeply concerned that this week’s natural disaster will make the needs on the ground even steeper as people lose access to health care and other essential services.

The IRC’s work in Colombia

The IRC has been delivering essential, lifesaving services to communities in Colombia since 2018, reaching nearly 450,000 people. 

Our teams work with local partners to address urgent needs and deliver services including:

• Health: The IRC operates its own health clinic in Colombia and collaborates with other health providers to deliver sexual and reproductive health care, including maternal and newborn care and clinical care for survivors of gender-based violence, primary care, and mental health services.
• Economic Recovery and Development: IRC Colombia implements the largest cash assistance program in the region, a key tool for food security and household stability. To promote economic integration, the IRC supports small businesses and helps people access formal employment.
• Education: The IRC promotes access, retention, and quality learning through play-based spaces for early childhood and technology-driven teaching practices. In addition, IRC piloted a digital learning approach to provide educational content to hard-to-reach children through online and offline mechanisms. IRC supports schools in setting up their safety plans, thereby reducing the impact of violence and disasters.
• Protection: The IRC provides case management for survivors of gender-based violence and neglect, as well as for children affected by violence. Most clients are identified by our health and education teams as part of our holistic response.
• Emergency Response: The IRC responded to the Catatumbo displacement crisis at the start of 2025, and the impact of heavy rainfall in 2026 in the south of the country, providing lifesaving health and protection services.

Donate now

The IRC has worked alongside communities in Colombia since 2018 and stands ready to deploy an emergency response to meet the needs of people affected by this earthquake as needs become clearer. Your support helps the IRC deliver urgent health care, protection, and other essential services—in Colombia and to communities affected by crises around the world.

More about the IRC 

The International Rescue Committee has over 90 years of experience helping people affected by crisis in more than 40 countries to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. We also help refugees and displaced people resettle and integrate into new communities in the U.S. and across Europe.

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