On 10 August 2026 at 7:34 a.m., a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia, with its epicentre in San José del Palmar, Chocó. It is the most powerful seismic event recorded in the country this century.
According to official figures from Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), more than 290 people have died, more than 3,900 have been injured and more than 300 remain missing. The emergency now reaches more than 440 municipalities across 15 departments, affecting more than 115,000 people and destroying more than 14,000 homes. Cali, Pereira, Quibdó, Manizales and Armenia remain under red alert.
Within hours, YMCA Colombia had verified the status of all nine of its local YMCAs and activated a response on three fronts at once: communication, mental health, and humanitarian relief. Teams remain on the ground today in Risaralda, Quindío and Cali.
What your support will do
Funds raised through the appeal will allow local YMCAs to scale up the priority items their teams have identified in the field: tents, blankets, mattresses, water, food and medicines. They will also:
- create safe spaces for children while schools remain closed
- equip the volunteers leading the response
- repair damaged YMCA facilities, including the YMCA Cali site that coordinates the entire response and that surrounding communities depend on
The commitment does not end when the emergency phase does. Over the next 12 to 18 months, YMCA Risaralda, YMCA Quindío and YMCA Cali will accompany their communities with psychological care, socioemotional support and the rebuilding of community ties.
Because rebuilding a house takes months, and rebuilding trust takes longer. The YMCA stays for both.
Every donation is locally led
All funds raised go directly to the response led by the YMCAs of Colombia and are shaped by them, according to the needs they identify in their own territories.
Give now to the Colombia appeal →
Offline and international bank transfer details are available on the appeal page, along with a link to YMCA Colombia’s own donation page.