Colombia After the Earthquake: Standing in Solidarity with Affected Communities

On August 10, Colombia was struck by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake, with its epicenter in San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó, at a depth of 103 kilometers, according to the Colombian Geological Service. The earthquake was felt across much of the country and caused significant impacts, particularly in western Colombia.

Only a few days have passed, and the emergency is still unfolding. While rescue teams continue working in the hardest-hit areas, authorities are assisting affected families, assessing the damage, and working to restore damaged roads and essential services. However, aftershocks continue to occur in the affected areas, making it even more difficult to respond to the critical situation the country is facing.

At ANEI, we want to share this update with our partners and friends around the world—not only to let you know that our team and our communities in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Serranía del Perijá are safe, but also to express our solidarity with the Colombian families and communities who are facing an extremely difficult and painful situation today.

The numbers continue to change

As rescue efforts, victim identification, and damage assessments continue, authorities are regularly updating the figures related to the emergency.  As of August 12, 2026, the national figures reported by authorities indicate that at least 181 people have died and 2,595 have been injured. Search efforts are also continuing for people whose whereabouts have not yet been confirmed.

The number of affected homes is also increasing as emergency teams reach different communities. In Chocó and other areas of western Colombia, hundreds of homes have been documented with damage, while national reports already indicate more than one thousand homes destroyed or severely affected.

Indigenous and coffee-growing communities are also among those affected

Although the earthquake was felt in several regions of Colombia, the most significant impacts have been concentrated in the western and southwestern parts of the country, particularly in Chocó, the Coffee Region, and Valle del Cauca. Among the cities reporting the greatest impacts are Pereira, Manizales, Cali, and Quibdó, as well as municipalities located near the epicenter. Damage has also been reported in Armenia and Popayán. Pereira, Manizales, and Armenia are all part of Colombia's Coffee Region, where thousands of families depend on agriculture and coffee production for their livelihoods.

Chocó is at the heart of one of the most critical areas of the emergency. In Quibdó, damage has been reported to homes and other structures, while in rural municipalities near the epicenter, where Indigenous communities also live, difficult access, communication challenges, and damaged infrastructure have made it harder for assistance to reach those who need it.

The National Federation of Coffee Growers has also joined the assessment of affected coffee-growing areas to understand the impact the earthquake may have had on coffee-growing families, their homes, farms, and the infrastructure required for production.

At this moment, however, people remain the priority.

An emergency that is also affecting mobility across the country

Beyond the human and material consequences, the earthquake has caused damage, closures, and restrictions on several roads in western Colombia, making it more difficult to transport people, humanitarian aid, and goods.

These disruptions are also affecting strategic transportation corridors connecting producing regions with Buenaventura, one of the country's main ports for exporting products to international markets. This has created logistical challenges and delays as authorities assess the damage and work to restore the affected roads.

According to ASOEXPORT, coffee export operations are largely suspended while authorities and companies assess road conditions and port infrastructure. There is still no definitive timeline for the full normalization of the main transportation routes.

How are things at ANEI?

Following the first message we shared with our partners, we would like to reassure you once again: ANEI is safe and operating normally. Our team, our producer communities, and our operations in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Serranía del Perijá are safe.

We also want to provide clarity for our partners who have reached out to us regarding possible logistical impacts. Our operations are based in Colombia's Caribbean region, and our shipments are primarily managed through the ports of Santa Marta and Cartagena. For this reason, the disruptions currently affecting roads leading to Buenaventura have not impacted our operations.

We are sharing this information simply to reassure our customers and partners who have contacted us with concerns about the situation. Our attention today, however, is focused above all on those who are facing the consequences of this emergency.

We stand in solidarity with every family that has lost a loved one, their home, their workplace, or their source of livelihood. We also deeply recognize and appreciate the work of emergency response teams, volunteers, social organizations, and communities who, during this difficult situation, are helping Colombia move forward.

Thank you for standing with ANEI

We will continue to closely monitor the situation across the country and share any important updates. Thank you for being informed, for standing with us, and for being part of the ANEI community.

Colombia is facing a difficult moment today, but it is also demonstrating, once again, the strength of its communities and their ability to rise, rebuild, and move forward.

With solidarity and hope,

— ANEI Team

Sources

• Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC) – Información y actualización del sismo de San José del Palmar, Chocó. SGC – Actualización del sismo
• Servicio Geológico Colombiano – Visor de Sismos. SGC – Visor de Sismos
• Cadena SER – Actualización sobre víctimas, personas desaparecidas y daños en viviendas e infraestructura. Cadena SER – Emergencia por el terremoto en Colombia
• El País – Reporte sobre las zonas y ciudades más afectadas y las labores de rescate. El País – Colombia tras el terremoto
• El Heraldo – Impacto del terremoto en las exportaciones de café y las restricciones en Buenaventura. El Heraldo – Exportaciones de café afectadas
• AgroLatam – Impacto del terremoto sobre las exportaciones cafeteras por Buenaventura. AgroLatam – Impacto en las exportaciones de café