Earthquake in Colombia: Search for Your Family Members from the U.S.

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake that shook Colombia caused anguish among thousands of families living in the United States. The earthquake struck the western part of the country on the morning of August 10. Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdó reported severe damage.

Communication failures made contact with elderly people, hospitalized persons, and rural communities difficult. For this reason, several organizations enabled mechanisms to locate family members. The Colombian community in the United States also faces an additional difficulty. Some people cannot travel because they lack immigration status or fear they will not be able to return.

How to Report a Missing Family Member?

The Colombian Red Cross activated the Family Ties Protection program. The service receives requests from people who lost contact after the earthquake. From the United States, families can write to WhatsApp +57 321 213 9525. They can also send an email to rcf@cruzrojacolombiana.org.

The report should include the full name of the person being sought. It is also advisable to provide age, identification document, and last known location. The Red Cross may request information about hospitals, neighborhoods, or close family members. This information helps direct the request to the corresponding branch office.

The organization manages reports based on the area where the person might be found. The response may take time because teams first verify hospitals and care centers. Families should avoid sending multiple identical reports. Repeating the request can complicate case classification. They also should not publish complete documents on social media. A photograph of an ID card can expose information used by scammers.

What to Do If Calls Are Not Going Through?

Cellular networks typically become saturated after an earthquake. For this reason, a call that doesn’t go through does not confirm that the person is missing. Families can send text messages or brief notes via WhatsApp. Messages require less connection than a voice call.

They can also contact neighbors, hospitals, churches, and close family members. Indirect information can confirm whether a person evacuated or received medical attention. People should establish schedules to attempt