EU pledges €2 million in aid for earthquake-hit Colombia

The European Union will provide €2 million to support communities in Colombia’s areas worst affected by a powerful earthquake, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.

“As search and rescue operations continue, the EU is supporting Colombia wherever possible,” von der Leyen said in a post on X.

“We are making €2 million available to support communities in the most affected areas,” she added.

Von der Leyen said the assistance was being coordinated following Colombia’s activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

As search and rescue operations continue, the EU is supporting Colombia wherever possible.

We are making €2 million available to support communities in the most affected areas.

Following Colombia’s activation of the Civil Protection Mechanism, we are working to match aid to…

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) August 12, 2026

“Following Colombia’s activation of the Civil Protection Mechanism, we are working to match aid to the needs on the ground,” she said, concluding her message with: “Esta es la solidaridad europea” (“This is European solidarity”).

A magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10. Search and rescue operations are continuing as authorities assess the damage and assist affected communities.

By Aghakazim Guliyev