An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 shook western Colombia during the morning of Monday, August 10, just over half a month after the strong tremors that shook the neighboring country, Venezuela.
So far, the numbers already exceed more than 100 people killed and hundreds injured, while emergency teams continue search and rescue operations. The catastrophe has also left numerous buildings destroyed or damaged, including churches, convents and shrines of several dioceses.
The earthquake had its epicenter near San José del Palmar, a municipality in the department of Chocó, and struck with particular intensity cities such as Pereira, Cali and Manizales. While the assessment of damages continues, the Colombian Church has begun to organize assistance to those affected through dioceses, parishes, Cáritas and food banks.
The bishops: “Colombia is called to recognize itself as one family”
In a message addressed to the Colombian people, the Presidency of the Episcopal Conference expressed its “affection and closeness” to those suffering the consequences of the earthquake and offered its prayers for the deceased, missing, injured and affected families.
The bishops also commended the relief agencies, authorities, health personnel, volunteers, public servants, members of the Public Force and those participating in search, rescue and care operations.
“No one can face an emergency of this magnitude alone,” the episcopal statement notes, calling on the country to recognize itself “as one family” and respond to suffering with “generosity, responsibility and solidarity.”
The Episcopal Conference has announced that it will communicate the channels to channel aid to those affected.
Serious damage to churches in Manizales and Pereira
Among the most striking images left by the earthquake are those of the Cathedral Basilica of Manizales, in the department of Caldas, where one of its towers suffered serious damage and remained leaning over the temple’s façade.
Also in Manizales, the church in the El Carmen neighborhood suffered the collapse of part of its roof.
The Archbishop of Manizales, Monsignor José Miguel Gómez, confirmed damage to numerous homes, buildings, temples and sacred places. The prelate stated that the Church’s priority is to accompany the people and communities hit by the earthquake and called for special attention to those facing greater difficulties.
“Let no person be left without care in these moments of difficulty,” the archbishop requested, who also called to follow the authorities’ instructions and maintain trust in God.
In the diocese of Pereira —a city located 53 km south of Manizales— the parish of Our Lady of Carmen-San José Church was severely affected. Images shared on social media show how, during the earthquake, the upper part of the façade detached and fell onto the atrium.
@nmasunivision La iglesia San José en Pereira, Colombia sufrió daños durante el terremoto magnitud 7.4 registrado este 10 de agosto, otras estructuras en ciudades como Cali y Manizales también resultaron afectadas. Pero el movimiento telúrico se percibió con fuerza en las regiones de Bogotá, Popayán, Armenia y Medellín. Además de la iglesia, de acuerdo con los videos difundidos en redes tras el sismo, el Aeropuerto Internacional Matecaña de la ciudad de Pereira también resultó con daños. #nmásunivisionviral #sismo #terremoto #colombia #iglesia
The Bishop of Pereira, Monsignor Nelson Jair Cardona Ramírez, asked priests, deacons, seminarians and religious to remain available to assist those affected. The diocese has also established contact with the authorities of Pereira to work “as a single team at the service of the brothers who are suffering the most.”
The Basilica of the Lord of Miracles of Buga closes its doors
The Redemptorist missionaries responsible for the Basilica of the Lord of Miracles of Buga, one of Colombia’s main pilgrimage centers, reported that the building has “partial damage”, including cracks in the central dome and material detachments.
As a preventive measure, the sanctuary will remain closed while a technical evaluation is carried out to determine the state of the structure and possible risks.
In Antioquia, damage was also recorded in religious buildings. In the municipality of Venice, part of the central façade of the Sanctuary of St. Joseph fell onto the atrium. In Jardín, the interior of the municipal church suffered damage and several religious images were destroyed.
@larazonco Nación | El fuerte sismo registrado este lunes provocó el colapso de la cúpula de la iglesia ubicada en el parque principal de Venecia, Antioquia, generando momentos de pánico entre habitantes y visitantes. Además, se reportan daños en infraestructura pública y templos religiosos de Támesis, Jericó, Hispania, Remedios, Cañasgordas, Sonsón y La Unión. Las autoridades realizan inspecciones para establecer el alcance de las afectaciones.
Temples affected in Cali
In Cali, capital of the department of Valle del Cauca, Archbishop Luis Fernando Rodríguez Velásquez reported damage to several prominent temples in the city, including the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle and the churches of La Merced, San Francisco and Santa Rosa de Lima.
The Augustinian Recollect Missionaries of the La Merced convent stated that the temple suffered “the most serious destruction in its history,” with the collapse of the presbytery roof and cracks in its walls.
Monsignor Rodríguez Velásquez called on the inhabitants of Cali to “unite, walk together and work together” and thanked the work of volunteers, priests, deacons, religious and benefactors who have begun to collaborate with the affected communities.
Also in Valle del Cauca, the Basilica of Our Lady of Poverty of Cartago suffered serious damage after the collapse of the central nave roof.
Cáritas and food banks mobilize aid
The Church’s response has also extended to material assistance for affected families. From Bogotá —the capital of Colombia— an extraordinary campaign has been launched to mobilize food, drinking water and basic necessities to the hardest-hit areas.
The Secretariat of Social Pastoral-Cáritas Colombiana has activated, for its part, the National Emergency Service to raise funds directly for the jurisdictions and communities suffering the consequences of the earthquake.
The Church calls for unity and solidarity in the face of tragedy
While search and assistance efforts for those affected continue, the Episcopal Conference has placed Colombia and, in a special way, the affected communities under the protection of the Virgin Mary.
The bishops have asked the Virgin to accompany those who suffer and help Colombians to “remain united, care for each other and sustain hope even in the midst of adversity.”
The message concludes by reiterating the Church’s commitment to those suffering the consequences of the earthquake: “To all those affected, our prayer, our closeness and our solidarity.”