Colombia's Earthquake Death Toll Approaches 300 as Search for Survivors Ends — From Grief to Grassroots

Karla Teran, a Venezuelan woman who lost her mother in the earthquake, cries during an interview with AFP outside the Palmira morgue in Valle del Cauca department, Colombia, on August 14, 2026. The chances of finding earthquake survivors in Colombia dropped significantly on August 14, four days after the 7.4-magnitude tremor struck, though rescue efforts plowed ahead as hundreds remained missing. (Credit: Photo by Raul ARBOLEDA / AFP via Getty Images)

A week after a magnitude-7.4 earthquake tore through western Colombia, search crews have largely abandoned hope of finding more survivors and turned their attention to recovery, while Colombian communities scattered across South Florida have channeled their grief into an organized, multi-city relief campaign.

A Toll Still Being Counted