Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ has expressed condolences to Colombian President Abelardo Gábriel de la Espriella Otero following a powerful earthquake that struck western Colombia, the Russian Orthodox Church said.

The earthquake, measuring 7.4 in magnitude, occurred on August 10 near the municipality of San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó. Reuters reports that the death toll has surpassed 250, with hundreds still listed as missing and thousands injured. Thousands of homes and damage has been reported across medical facilities and other infrastructure, while rescue teams continue searching for survivors and clearing rubble.

In his message, Patriarch Kirill offered support to the affected and their families and called for condolences to be conveyed to those who lost loved ones. “I pray to the Lord for the swift recovery of those who are wounded, and for the strengthening of the strength of those who are now working to save the victims,” the patriarch said.

Representatives of Orthodox communities in Colombia also reported the situation. Bishop Timótheo Assyrian, regional vicar for Bogotá and the Metropolitanate of Mexico under the Ecumenical Patriarchate, said he had no information indicating that members of the Greek community were among the dead or injured, though he noted that the overall situation in the country remains extremely difficult.

According to the bishop, more than 5,000 homes were damaged and the medical infrastructure suffered serious harm. In the hardest-hit areas, disruptions to telecommunications and electricity continue, complicating efforts to reach remote settlements. The Orthodox community said it is coordinating with Greek diplomatic representatives and working to organize assistance, with particular attention to Venezuelan refugees in precarious conditions. The metropolitanate is already providing support to about 300 refugee families.

The Catholic Church also launched large-scale humanitarian work soon after the quake. Catholic bishops in Colombia called for solidarity, while local dioceses in the most affected areas began helping evacuees together with authorities. In Manizales, the famous cathedral suffered major damage as a tower collapsed, Fides reports. In Calí, historic churches—including the Cathedral of St. Peter and the La Merced church—were affected. Church-linked groups organized fundraising and supplies, and a network of food banks is sending water, food, and essential items to hospitals and shelters.

Pope Leo XIV also sent initial emergency aid of €100,000 to Colombia, Vatican News reported. The funds were delivered to Caritas Colombia, which coordinates distribution among the affected dioceses.

Experts warn that the impact of the disaster may be worse than initial estimates, as rescue operations continue and communications with some remote mountain regions remain down. They also note that Colombia lies in a seismically active area, meaning aftershocks can continue after the main quake.