Earthquake in Colombia: How you can help people in the west of the country right now
On 10 August 2026, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia. More than 265 people have died and entire neighbourhoods lie in ruins. On GoodCrowd.org, private individuals with direct ties on the ground are raising funds so that help reaches the places where it is needed.
GC-Redaktion
Reading time: 4 min
Updated: 17.08.2026
The situation in western Colombia
On the morning of 10 August 2026 at 7:34 a.m. local time, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia. The epicentre was near the town of San José del Palmar in the Chocó department on the Pacific coast, at a focal depth of around 103 kilometres. It was the strongest quake felt in the country in over a decade. The tremors reached as far as Bogotá and Medellín.
The hardest hit areas are the Chocó region with its hard to reach capital Quibdó, the coffee belt around Pereira and Manizales, and the city of Cali. As of 13 August 2026, at least 265 people have died, more than 3,500 have been injured, and over 2,000 are still missing. More than 1,500 homes, 18 hospitals and 52 schools have been damaged. The Colombian government has declared a national state of emergency.
The Chocó was already one of the poorest regions in the country before the quake and is difficult to reach by road. It is exactly there that large scale aid often arrives slowly.
Campaigns with a direct link to Colombia
We know that many people already give to large organisations. Yet in remote regions like the Chocó, that help often arrives late or not at all. Financial support for private contacts on the ground works immediately. The campaigns below were started by people with their own ties to Colombia. Your donation reaches them directly and can be put to use quickly on site.
1. Donation campaign
Earthquake relief Colombia: directly on the ground
Nathalie grew up in Colombia and is visiting her family in Cali when the quake hits the city. The apartment of her aunt and cousin on the seventh floor of a high rise has been left uninhabitable. Nathalie buys whatever is on the city's current needs list, from protective gear for the rescue teams to drinking water and food, and takes it to the official collection point herself. Whatever she cannot turn into purchases, she passes on to local organisations that also reach the Chocó. She documents every purchase and handover with photos in the updates.
To the campaign
To the campaign
2. Donation campaign
Earthquake emergency relief in Colombia
Lukas is raising funds for everyday essentials in the disaster area. A close friend of his lives right in the affected region and passes the donations on straight away, so that help reaches people on the ground without detours.
To the campaign
To the campaign
3. Donation campaign
Earthquake Colombia: emergency relief Chocó and logistics
A friend of Niklas and her community are organising earthquake relief from Cali and have already brought supplies to Buenaventura. For the same help to reach the badly affected Chocó region, there is an acute shortage of money for vehicles and fuel. Every donation goes directly towards these transport costs, without which the goods cannot get there.
To the campaign
To the campaign
4. Donation campaign Colombia:
One single heart
Carolina lives in Nuremberg and is raising funds for the rebuilding of her home country. Her campaign is for everyone who wants to support the affected families after the quake and help build a piece of their future together.
To the campaign
To the campaign
Why you can start your own campaign now
These campaigns show that direct, personal solidarity works. If you have ties to Colombia yourself, now is the moment to act.
- Do you have friends in Colombia? Activate your network here for people there.
- Do you have family or relatives in Colombia? Mobilise the people around you in Germany or Austria.
- Does your community or organisation have partnerships in Colombia? Use existing connections for direct support.
- Do you know people from the Colombian community? Support them in helping their communities.
- Do you have cultural or business connections to Colombia? Show your solidarity now.
How to start your solidarity campaign in 5 minutes
- Create your campaign: Register on GoodCrowd.org for free and get started.
- Tell your story: Describe your personal connection and why solidarity matters now.
- Set a concrete goal: Name a realistic amount and what it will be used for.
- Add photos: Show the people or communities, with their consent.
- Share and mobilise: Use WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.
What your solidarity can achieve
An example from Nathalie's campaign shows what the money is worth on the ground. 1,000 euros is around 3.6 million pesos.
- 500 € secure drinking water and food packages for several families over several days.
- 1,000 € cover, for example, 25 complete sets of protective gear for the rescue teams, or 60 crates of drinking water, or 12 weekly food packages for families.
- 2,500 € provide tents, blankets and hygiene items for families whose homes have become uninhabitable.
- 5,000 € cover transport and logistics to bring supplies to hard to reach places in the Chocó.
Tips for a successful solidarity campaign
- Authenticity and respect: Talk about your personal connection and put the strength of the people on the ground first, not their hardship. Emphasise that this is about mutual solidarity.
- Be concrete: Name people, places and specific goals, always with the consent of those affected. This shows respect and builds trust.
- Create transparency: Explain exactly how the money is used and where it arrives. Show that the communities themselves decide what they need most urgently.
- Activate your network: Your first donors are decisive. Ask family and close friends first, whose support encourages others.
Why GoodCrowd.org for solidarity with Colombia
- Social, not profit oriented: GoodCrowd pursues no profit interests and finances itself solely through voluntary co-donations.
- Almost everything gets through: Only the payment providers' fees are deducted from the donations, so that as much as possible reaches the place where it is needed.
- No base fees: Starting a campaign is completely free.
- Immediate help: Donations go straight to the campaign starters without detours.
- Personal support: We support you in German and English.
Please note: donations made through GoodCrowd are not tax deductible in the legal sense, and no donation receipt can be issued.
Frequently asked questions
- Why should I start my own campaign instead of donating to large organisations?
- Large aid organisations do important work, but in remote regions like the Chocó their help often arrives late or not at all. Financial help for private contacts on the ground works immediately and directly.
- I do not know anyone personally in the affected areas. Can I still help?
- Yes. You can support the existing campaigns, for example Nathalie's or Lukas's. Sharing a campaign also helps enormously.
- How do I know the money actually arrives?
- On GoodCrowd, donations go directly to the campaign starters. Many report on how the funds are used in their updates. Nathalie, for example, documents every purchase and handover with photos.
- What does it cost me to start a campaign?
- Nothing. Creating a campaign is completely free. Only the payment providers' fees are deducted from the donations.
- How quickly does the money reach those affected?
- Donations are paid out directly to the campaign starter's account, so they can be used on the ground at short notice.
- Can I edit my campaign later?
- Yes, you can post updates, adjust the fundraising goal and add new information at any time.
