On Monday, August 10, 2026, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, with its epicenter near San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó. It is one of the strongest earthquakes the country has felt in decades, and the damage has been serious: the hardest-hit areas span the Eje Cafetero, Choco and Valle del Cauca, including Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Quibdó, and Cali, with hundreds of casualties reported and search and rescue operations still ongoing days later. The national government has declared a state of disaster.

If you have a trip to Colombia planned in the coming days, or if you're watching the news from abroad and wondering how to help, here is what we know, straight from the ground in Medellín.

Is It Safe to Travel to Medellín Right Now?

Yes. Medellín and the José María Córdova International Airport (Rionegro) are operating normally. The airport reported only minor cosmetic damage on the day of the earthquake, and as of this week flights are departing and arriving on schedule, with occasional delays on select routes for operational reasons unrelated to the quake. The Valle de Aburrá did not experience structural damage in the city itself.

That said, Antioquia as a department was not untouched. Local authorities have reported damage across dozens of municipalities outside the city, particularly in the eastern and southwestern parts of the department, affecting homes, schools, and community buildings.

Regions Where Travel Is Currently Affected

If your itinerary includes the Eje Cafetero or the Pacific coast, please check directly with your airline before heading to the airport. Commercial operations remain suspended at the airports of Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Cartago, Quibdó, and Buenaventura while structural inspections continue. Colombia's civil aviation authority is monitoring the situation and recommends travelers follow official channels for updates.

How You Can Help From Abroad

Colombia genuinely needs support right now, and rebuilding will take time well beyond this week's headlines. The most trusted official channel is the Colombian Red Cross( CRUZ ROJA), running its #TodosPorColombia campaign at cruzrojacolombiana.org, along with Fundación PLAN's dedicated earthquake relief campaign. Authorities have also warned about fraudulent accounts circulating online, so please use verified channels only.

As a Medellín-based agency with people and contacts across the country, we wanted to offer a more direct way to help, too.

TourPoint's Relief Effort

Founder Meghan Contreras who is closely related to the CHOCO REGION and the TourPoint team are personally purchasing relief supplies and delivering them to official donation centers. As contributions grow, the plan is to fly essential goods directly into Chocó, one of the areas hit hardest and hardest to reach.

If you'd like to contribute:

Zelle: meg.cotu@hotmail.com . please send your receipt via WhatsApp or email so we can confirm it.
Credit card: contact us directly at info@tourpointcol.com or +57 313 854 7276 and we'll send you a secure payment link
WhatsApp: +57 313 854 7276
This isn't the main point of your trip planning, and it isn't a fundraising pitch,  it's simply an open door for anyone who wants to help a country that will still need support long after it's out of the headlines.

Medellín is ready to welcome you. And if you'd like to do a little good while you're at it, we'd be glad to help you do that too.