Karol Darmoros
The Church has rushed to help
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on the morning of August 10. The epicenter was located in the Chocó department, near San José del Palmar. The tremors were strongly felt in Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Armenia, among other places.
According to the latest data, more than 53,000 people have been affected. Over 11,000 homes have been destroyed, and search operations are still ongoing.
“We experienced this earthquake with great anxiety, as it was one of the strongest ground movements in recent decades,” Fr. Raúl Ortiz Toro told Vatican media in an interview.
From the very first hours, the Church joined in helping the residents. Halls, community centers, and parishes are being transformed into shelters for those who cannot return to their homes. Church relief structures have also launched financial support from the National Emergency Fund, and 25 food banks associated with Colombian dioceses are collecting food and material aid.
“People have greatly appreciated the presence of the Church in these places, through social activity and Caritas,” the secretary of the episcopate emphasizes. Among the most urgent needs, he mentions water, which is lacking in some of the affected towns, as well as non-perishable food, blankets, and rescue equipment.
Churches also damaged
The earthquake also damaged numerous church buildings. “There was a lot of damage in parishes, churches, and parish houses,” Fr. Ortiz Toro reports.
In Quibdó, near the epicenter, the bishop’s residence was damaged. In Dosquebradas, the church of Our Lady of Guadalupe was completely destroyed. Damage was also reported at St. Joseph’s parish in Pereira, the church in La Virginia, and numerous parishes in Cali. In Manizales, one of the towers of the cathedral basilica collapsed.
Call for unity
Aid for Colombia is also flowing from abroad. Fr. Ortiz Toro points to the solidarity of the universal Church and support from the dicasteries of the Holy See, as well as the prayers of Leo XIV.
“All of this comforts us and fills us with hope because it shows that brotherhood exists,” the clergyman says.
As he notes, the tragedy struck the country during a period of strong political polarization. However, the cataclysm reminds everyone of our shared human fragility. “This is a crucial moment for Colombia to live out national unity and the brotherhood that binds us, as well as the closeness that is born precisely in moments of suffering,” emphasizes the secretary of the Colombian episcopate.
