International Medical Corps is coordinating closely with government authorities and local partners following the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10. The epicenter of the earthquake was located near San José del Palmar, a community with a population of 5,000 people located in the Chocó Department. Other nearby cities, including Cali, Manizales and Pereira, were impacted, and neighboring countries—including Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela—also felt the quake. The earthquake has further strained humanitarian conditions in the region, which was already facing substantial needs following the earthquakes that affected neighboring Venezuela in June.
Drawing on our in-country network, we are supporting ongoing assessments, identifying priority humanitarian needs, and preparing to mobilize prepositioned emergency supplies and assets from our logistics hub in Panama.
Early reports indicate gaps in healthcare services, safe drinking water, hygiene supplies and nutrition support, particularly in communities where damage to health facilities and critical infrastructure is limiting access to assistance. We are working closely with local partners to address priority humanitarian needs and stand ready to mobilize additional resources should broader international support be requested.
The earthquake, the strongest recorded in Colombia in the last decade, has caused widespread devastation across affected communities. More than 200 deaths have been reported, with many more people injured—numbers that are likely to rise while search-and-rescue efforts continue. Damage to homes, health facilities, schools and transportation networks has disrupted access to essential services, including healthcare. Humanitarian needs are expected to grow as assessments continue and the full impact of the disaster becomes clearer.