In the days since a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, Latter-day Saints have been watching closely for updates on missionaries, Church personnel and the Cali Colombia Temple as rescue efforts continue across the region. The disaster has left hundreds dead or missing and prompted Church members and personnel in affected areas to join the wider response.
The earthquake struck near San José del Palmar, Chocó, at 7:34 a.m. on Monday, August 10, causing widespread destruction across western Colombia. Reuters reported Thursday that at least 265 people had died and about 500 remained missing, while the South America Northwest Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said that the Church was involved in providing assistance.
Area Presidency Responds to the Disaster
The South America Northwest Area Presidency addressed families and communities affected by the earthquake in a statement issued after the disaster. “We are deeply saddened for the people impacted by the recent earthquake in Colombia. We express our love to all the families and communities affected by this earthquake,” the presidency said.
Church leaders also outlined the Church of Jesus Christ’s involvement in relief efforts. “The Church is working in coordination with government agencies and other organizations to provide all the assistance and support needed for those affected.”
The presidency concluded with a message directed toward families facing separation, uncertainty and loss. “We pray that families may be reunited and that, during these difficult times, they will find the strength and comfort that only Jesus Christ can provide.”
Reuters reported that the earthquake toppled apartment buildings and damaged homes, schools and hospitals, forcing residents into the streets throughout western Colombia. By Thursday, rescue workers in Cali had shifted toward debris removal at many locations as hopes of finding additional survivors diminished.
Cali Temple Personnel Assist at Collapse Sites
Construction crews temporarily paused work on the Cali Colombia Temple, which sits in the La Flora neighborhood of Cali, about 95 miles south of the earthquake’s epicenter. Nain Bolívar Forero, who said he and his wife serve as construction service missionaries assigned to the temple, provided additional details about the local response.
Bolívar said temple personnel set aside their regular work to assist at disaster sites. “Temple staff did not work today, as they are assisting at the sites of collapsed buildings in Cali to help save lives,” he wrote in a translated social media comment.
Church personnel also inspected the Cali Colombia Temple and its auxiliary building after the earthquake. An initial update shared through an unofficial temple Facebook page said the exterior showed no apparent damage, while workers postponed a more extensive interior examination until the following day for safety reasons.
Engineers later completed a thorough inspection of both structures. “Both the Temple and the auxiliary building were examined, and—thanks to the Lord—this sturdy structure sustained no damage; its walls, foundations, and structural integrity remain in perfect condition,” Bolívar wrote.
Bolívar urged people to continue praying for those who had lost homes and loved ones in the earthquake.
Missionary Families Wait for Word
The earthquake also brought anxious hours for families with missionaries serving in Colombia. Kristy Shoemate Scott shared on social media that her family eventually received good news.
“After the 7.4 earthquake today, we are incredibly grateful to report that our missionary is safe,” Scott wrote. “What a scary feeling being so far away when something like this happens, but we are feeling very blessed and thankful tonight.”
Scott thanked those who contacted her family and kept missionaries and Colombian communities in their prayers. She asked people to continue praying for everyone affected by the earthquake and their families.
Chris Lund, who said he served a mission for the Church in Colombia, recalled experiencing three earthquakes during his 21 months there, including a 7.4-magnitude quake in 1980 while he was in Armenia. “It’s like nothing I could have imagined,” he wrote, adding, “I really feel for Colombians. They’re good people.”
Guy Powell also reflected on his time in Colombia, writing that he had served as a branch president in Manizales in the mid-1970s. After learning the mountain city had suffered severe damage, he wrote, “Que díos bendiga mis queridos amigos en Colombia,” or, “May God bless my dear friends in Colombia.”
Rescue Efforts Shift After First 72 Hours
Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, became one of the centers of emergency operations following Monday’s earthquake. Reuters reported that crews there had turned from search-and-rescue work toward debris removal at most sites by Thursday, although searches continued in some locations.
Pereira also suffered severe damage, leaving families searching for relatives trapped beneath collapsed homes. Enrique Marin told Reuters that he drove more than 10 hours from Bogotá after a friend called to tell him his mother was trapped beneath the rubble of her house.
Rescuers reached Marin’s mother six hours after the earthquake and pulled her from the debris with signs of life, but she died on the way to the hospital. Standing outside what remained of the home, Marin held a bicycle from his childhood—the only possession he recovered.
The danger has continued beyond the initial earthquake as repeated aftershocks shake the affected region. Colombian authorities said Thursday that more than 150 aftershocks had occurred since Monday, increasing the risks for rescue workers moving through unstable debris.
President Abelardo De La Espriella said Wednesday that he would declare an economic emergency and create a reconstruction fund. The government plans to use domestic and international aid through the fund to rebuild homes, hospitals, schools and infrastructure damaged by the earthquake.
Colombian officials have also addressed questions surrounding foreign assistance during the response. They said the government had not rejected offers from other countries but would accept international search-and-rescue teams only when they meet recognized certification standards.
For families still waiting for news, the earthquake’s impact remains immediate and unresolved. As rescue work continues across western Colombia, prayers from Church leaders and members remain focused on those who have lost loved ones, homes and any sense of certainty about what comes next.
Please share your prayers and messages of support for the people of Colombia in the comments below.
Holly Wallace is a writer and storyteller drawn to meaningful questions and overlooked details. Her work explores Latter-day Saint life and culture through faithful inquiry, inviting readers to pause, consider, and engage more deeply with what matters most.
