08/11/2026
Initial Update Following Colombia Earthquake (8/10/2026)
C P News: https://cpcmc.org/category/cmt/cp-news/
As rescue efforts continue following today’s devastating magnitude 7.4 earthquake in western Colombia, Cumberland Presbyterian Church Ministry Council Elected Member Rev. Angélica Poveda, who lives in Cali, has reported that she and her family are safe.
According to initial news reports, at least 47 people have died following the earthquake, the strongest to strike Colombia in a decade. The earthquake struck near San José del Palmar on Monday morning, sending strong tremors across western Colombia, including the cities of Cali, Pereira, and Manizales. Rescue teams and residents continue searching collapsed buildings for survivors, and at least three of those killed are reported to be children.
Poveda also reported that structures have collapsed in several Colombian cities, including Cali, Pereira, and Manizales. Earlier reports confirmed that Pereira Cumberland Presbyterian Church sustained damage during the earthquake. Ministry Council staff continue to monitor conditions as additional information becomes available.
Colegio Americano in Cali announced that all public services and campus activities will be suspended Monday and Tuesday while administrators carry out comprehensive inspections of school buildings and infrastructure. School officials emphasized that the closure is a precautionary measure designed to ensure the safety of students, families, faculty, staff, and visitors before normal operations resume. The school also expressed gratitude for the community’s understanding and called for prayers for everyone affected by the disaster.
Initial reports also indicate that families connected with both Colegio Americano and Nueva Esperanza are safe.
The Ministry Council has asked Cumberland Presbyterians to join in prayer for all those affected by the earthquake, for the families of those who have lost loved ones, for emergency responders and relief workers, and for Cumberland Presbyterian congregations, schools, and ministries serving communities throughout the affected region.
Additional updates will be shared as they become available.