Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Strikes Colombia: Children Need Help Now
Damage assessments are underway after a major 7.4 magnitude earthquake rocked Colombia in the early hours of Aug. 10, 2026.
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit Colombia's Pacific Coast on Monday, Aug. 10, 2025 at 7:43 a.m. local time, trapping people under debris and forcing others to evacuate their homes.
Damage assessments are underway. Early reports indicate the quake killed at least 20 people and collapsed dozens of buildings. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake's epicenter was three miles east of San Jose Del Palmar, a municipality in the Chocó region. Tremors were felt in Bogotá, the nation's capital, and as far away as Ecuador and Venezuela.
Learn more about UNICEF's work for children in Colombia
When earthquakes hit, UNICEF is there to help children and families
The quake comes less than two months after back-to-back earthquakes hit Venezuela on June 24, 2026, killing 6,125 people; 60,992 people were treated in hospitals, and 6,462 people were rescued. In the five weeks following the earthquakes, UNICEF's scaled-up humanitarian response in Venezuela reached:
- 25,483 people with primary health care
- 22,424 children, adults and pregnant women with routine and catch-up vaccinations
- 9,412 people with critical WASH supplies
- 5,804 children and caregivers with nutrition services
- 6,134 children, adolescents and caregivers with child protection services, including MHPSS
Learn more about UNICEF's earthquake response in Venezuela
UNICEF works in 36 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean
UNICEF has worked in Latin America and the Caribbean since the 1950s, with 24 country offices, a regional office in Panama City, and programs reaching 36 countries and territories. When an emergency hits, UNICEF moves quickly — with rapid needs assessments, surge staff deployments, pre-positioned stocks, and delivery of safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, and child protection services.
UNICEF estimates approximately 11 million people, including 4 million children and adolescents, will require humanitarian assistance to cope with disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2026 — a figure driven by intensifying climate shocks and high-impact hazards across the region.
Wherever children are in need, UNICEF is there to help. Support UNICEF's lifesaving and life-changing work for children.
HOW TO HELP
There are many ways to make a difference
War, famine, poverty, natural disasters — threats to the world's children keep coming. But UNICEF won't stop working to keep children healthy and safe.
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories — more places than any other children's organization. UNICEF has the world's largest humanitarian warehouse and, when disaster strikes, can get supplies almost anywhere within 72 hours. Constantly innovating, always advocating for a better world for children, UNICEF works to ensure that every child can grow up healthy, educated, protected and respected.
Would you like to help give all children the opportunity to reach their full potential? There are many ways to get involved.
