On August 10, 2026, a key event was the 7.4-magnitude earthquake centered near San José del Palmar, Chocó, which affected large areas of western Colombia. By August 27, the Colombian Government’s UNGRD-supported RAPIDA assessment reported 331 deaths, 4,449 injuries, 143 missing persons, and more than 406,000 people affected, representing approximately 193,000 families. Within the SVD mission area, Dagua, Valle del Cauca, was particularly hard hit. The two principal churches of Our Lady of Remedies Parish and the rectory sustained serious structural damage, while chapels in six rural communities—La María, El Piñal, Santa María, Palmar, Centellas, and Brisas—were severely damaged or destroyed, with some communities cut off from communication and access for several days.

In Cali, the walls of Divine Word Parish (Verbo Divino) developed cracks, while the homes of parishioners and lay collaborators were also damaged. In Vigía del Fuerte, Antioquia, parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy Parish were affected and received assistance from the SVD Province. Murindó, another SVD mission area, was also within the broader affected region and reported minor damage to SVD property. Initial emergency relief had been supplied with the help of SVD initiatives and through other sources. The damage and havoc are enormous beyond immediate quick response due to lack of broken communication and chaos.

A long-term process of rehabilitation and rebuilding is underway through the initiatives of the SVDs, other stakeholders, and government agencies. This process requires substantial financial support.

We have included a few photographs taken immediately after the disaster struck the mission territory of the SVDs. These images are uploaded along with this write-up to provide a glimpse of the devastation and the urgent needs of the affected communities.

We encourage people of goodwill to support this cause and help restore hope and dignity to the lives of those affected. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in their lives.