Major earthquake hits Colombia, Unbound staff assessing impact

Updated as of 8/14/2026
Unbound teams across Colombia are checking on sponsored families and communities after a major 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country on the morning of Aug. 10. According to news reports, the powerful earthquake has claimed at least 111 lives and caused structural damage in several areas.

The earthquake was centered near San José del Palmar in Chocó and was felt across Colombia, and in neighboring Ecuador and Venezuela.

From Medellín to Cali, Unbound staff are contacting sponsored families, coordinating with community leaders and assessing conditions in the communities where sponsored families live. While officials are still determining the full extent of the damage, Unbound teams remain focused on ensuring families are safe and supported.

Cali, Antioquia, Bogotá and Cartagena     

Of the four regions where Unbound serves families in Colombia, the most significant impacts currently appear to be in Cali and surrounding communities. Initial reports indicate that apartment buildings and other structures have collapsed, trapping people beneath the rubble.

Communication outages are slowing efforts to gather reliable information from affected communities.

Unbound staff members in Cali are working remotely while connecting with community leaders. Their immediate priority is assessing the impact on sponsored families and identifying any urgent needs.

As of Aug. 14, the local team has identified 77 affected sponsored families in Cali. Families have sustained structural damage to their homes, with some suffering total losses due to collapsed roofs or walls. 

The team has been in contact with families through community leaders, and in some cases sponsored families have reached out directly. If access and mobility conditions allow, local staff will begin visiting communities in person later this week to establish contact with families who remain unreachable and assess conditions of local Unbound offices.

When asked about next steps, Jennifer Rojas, Cali project coordinator, said, “Immediate support will focus on the most urgent cases through available Critical Needs Funds [locally], with additional assistance requests to be submitted to Unbound [headquarters] as needs become clearer.” 

In Antioquia, in a community just three hours south of Medellín, a school serving families sponsored through Unbound collapsed. Thankfully, there are currently no reports of injuries among children or teachers, who were able to evacuate safely. Unbound staff continue to gather information about the condition of families.

The Unbound teams in Bogotá and Cartagena are safe and continue to assess conditions in the surrounding communities. At this time, there are no reports of sponsored families being impacted.

Needs assessment and response

Unbound is sending a special disbursement of $45,000 from the Critical Needs Fund to Cali to support approximately 77 families. Some of the funds will be used to provide temporary rent and basic living supplies for those who have been displaced from their homes due to significant damage or total loss. A portion of the critical funding will provide appliances, windows, doors and construction materials for repairs while the costs of basic materials for minor repairs or replacement of damaged household goods will also be covered.

The situation remains fluid, and some communities may be difficult to reach because of damaged infrastructure or communication disruptions.

As assessments continue, Unbound teams are prioritizing the safety and well-being of sponsored families and staff. They will continue checking on families and will share updates, including urgent needs and response efforts, as information becomes available.

How to help families affected by disaster

As reports come in from the field and Unbound assesses the extent of families’ needs, here are steps sponsors and others can take now to help.

• • Pray. The Unbound community is keeping all those affected and those assisting with relief efforts in our prayers.


• • Donate to the Critical Needs Fund. The fund assists families in the aftermath of events such as floods, severe storms, earthquakes and fires.