Colombia earthquake 2026: What you need to know

Several of the hardest-hit areas, including Chocó and Valle del Cauca, were already facing serious humanitarian challenges.

Chocó, near the earthquake’s epicenter, is a priority concern for emergency responders due to its extreme vulnerability, heavy reliance on water transport for access, and severely restricted information flow following the disaster. Home to many Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities who were already navigating chronic poverty, armed conflict, displacement, geographic isolation, and limited access to healthcare, Chocó faces immense barriers to receiving help and rebuilding lives after a disaster of this scale.

The disaster has severely strained essential health and public services right when families need them most. Structural damage to healthcare facilities across affected areas has forced local health systems onto high alert, threatening continuity of maternal and reproductive health services. At the same time, damage to dozens of schools has halted classes, robbing children of both their daily routine and a vital safe space during an already terrifying crisis.

“We are particularly concerned about women and girls, children, older people, and people with disabilities, who can face additional challenges in the aftermath of large-scale disasters like this,” says Vargas.

“When homes are destroyed and families are displaced, existing inequalities can deepen and protection risks can increase. Over the coming days, we need to make sure that assistance also reaches people living further away and in areas that are difficult to access. We stand ready to expand our response based on what our teams are seeing in the affected areas.”

The full humanitarian impact of the Colombia earthquake is still becoming clear. As assessments continue, CARE will stay close to affected communities and local partners, listen to what people say they need, and shape its response around those priorities.

CARE in Colombia: CARE has been working in Colombia since 1954, partnering with local organizations and communities across five departments, including Valle del Cauca, one of the areas most affected by the earthquake. CARE’s work focuses on protection, healthcare, and supporting communities as they recover from crises.