Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia on 10 August caused 331 deaths, 4,449 injuries, and left 219 people missing, impacting over 406,000 individuals across 15 departments and 496 municipalities. The disaster damaged more than 3,800 educational facilities, affecting the education of over one million students; nearly 178,000 are enrolled in schools with serious structural damage, according to United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Colombia, María José Torres Macho.
The quake hit areas already burdened by poverty, isolation, and armed violence. Torres Macho noted that illegal armed groups had been active in affected areas prior to the disaster and expressed concern that disrupted schooling could increase the risk of child recruitment. She emphasized that restoring access to education is critical for continued learning and for providing a protective environment for children.
In Chocó, some rural schools were completely destroyed, others partially collapsed, and several remain at risk of collapse. Assessments in Risaralda and Caldas aim to determine which schools can safely reopen. The UN and its humanitarian partners have reached about 72,000 people in 36 municipalities across Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, and Caldas with aid, including education services.
Assessment efforts face obstacles such as damaged roads, travel difficulties along rivers, and electricity and connectivity issues, complicating aid delivery, especially in Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities. In Sipí, Chocó, around 95 Afro-Colombian people were displaced, raising concerns about further displacement in neighboring communities. Local authorities and community organizations have been among the first responders, though some municipalities remain overwhelmed by the scale of the emergency.