This is the complete map of the collection centers enabled in Colombia to help the victims of the 7.4 magnitude earthquake

The 7.4 magnitude earthquake with epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó, left at least 188 dead — according to the latest figures from the Colombian Association of Capital Cities (Asocapitales) — and damage in Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, and Quibdó.

Additionally, more than 153 buildings have collapsed and more than 1,500 are damaged. Thousands of victims lost everything and have had to sleep in temporary shelters and outdoors.

In order to collect aid for the hardest-hit areas, city halls, governorates, and non-governmental organizations set up collection centers throughout the country.

At least 40 of these places were tracked, located in 24 municipalities in 22 departments, in addition to those opened in Bogotá.

The collection is managed by local governments, including city halls and governorates that, in some cities, operate jointly with the Colombian Red Cross. Additionally, this entity concentrates the points in the capital of the country, while at the national level, aid is channeled through the economic donation campaign #TodosPorColombia.

Joining it is the Colombian Food Banks Association (Abaco), responsible for grouping regional food banks, which activated a humanitarian corridor. Also, the Colombian Association of Societies, through the Colombian Society of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation (SCARE), set up locations nationwide to receive medical supplies.

The capital concentrates the largest number of collection centers in the country. The Cundinamarca and Bogotá Red Cross Sectional enabled six points: Samu Sur (avenida carrera 68 #31-41 sur), Samu Norte (calle 134 – carrera 7B bis #132-31), the Aquatic Rescue Center (avenida La Esmeralda #63-81), the administrative headquarters (carrera 24 #73-38), the Red Cross warehouse (diagonal 79B #62-53), and the Sports Palace (calle 63 #59A-06).

On August 11, the City Hall added four of its own points: the Jorge Tadeo Lozano University (carrera 4 #22-61), a point in Usaquén (calle 161A #7F-55), the Unicentro shopping center (carrera 15 #124-30), and again the Red Cross headquarters, this time 24 hours. All receive bottled water, blankets, mats, mosquito nets, non-perishable food, first aid, and personal hygiene items.

Meanwhile, Sencia, operator of the Nemecio Camacho El Campín stadium, announced that it also opened its doors as a collection center to receive aid in partnership with the Red Cross.

In Cundinamarca, the Governorate enabled two other collection points. The first is at the Plaza de la Paz and the second at the Cundinamarca Liquor Company (Medellín highway, km 3.8, Siberia-Cota road). These also receive pet supplies.

In Valle del Cauca, the main center is the Jairo Varela Plaza in Cali. There, priority is given to items for rescue work, such as water, construction gloves, safety glasses, helmets, and mats.

At the Cali Food Bank, located at calle 24 #6-103, supplies are received, and at the Valle University Hospital, blood donations of all groups are accepted. Additionally, the Governorate launched the campaign “Todos Somos Valle”. Added to this, in Buenaventura, the Food Bank, located at avenida Simón Bolívar #47C-70, inside the Seminario School, collects food.

In Risaralda, Pereira, seven Care Centers (CAFE) were enabled: Consota, Perla del Otún, El Remanso, Kennedy, Ormaza (calle 3 bis #5-38), San Nicolás (carrera 14 bis #28-38), and Comuna del Café (carrera 3 with calle 59 A). There is also an alternate Food Bank point in Dosquebradas (transversal 5 #6-30, La Badea).

In Caldas, Manizales prioritized blood donation, especially groups O+ and O−, which is received at two points: the auxiliary courts next to the Palogrande Fire Station and the Café Hemocenter (carrera 21 #70-06). For supplies, the Manizales Food Bank (calle 49 #27A-85) collects non-perishable food. In Armenia, Quindío, the Monseñor Roberto López Londoño Food Bank operates.

In Medellín, Antioquia, through the campaign “Colombia se levanta”, the Archdiocesan Food Bank Foundation (carrera 52 #30A-97) and the Saciar Foundation (carrera 50 #25-261) collect donations. In Itagüí, the Main Park was enabled as a collection center.

In Barranquilla, a point of the City Hall was set up at carrera 43 #6-120 and another of the Governorate at the Galería Plaza de la Paz. In Cartagena, the Bernardo Caraballo Coliseum was opened and, in Santa Marta, the Risk Management Office was enabled at calle 16 #14A-08.

In Córdoba, the Governorate enabled the Miguel Happy Lora Coliseum in Montería, where a citizen point also operates in the El Recreo neighborhood. In Cesar, donations are collected in Valledupar: the Diocese leads a campaign and the Solidarity Center receives contributions, including those intended for pets.

In Santander, donations are concentrated in Bucaramanga, with two points: the first floor of the City Hall and a location opened by Centroabastos. In almost all these places, the same items are requested — non-perishable food, water, hygiene items, mats, and clothes in good condition — and, in several, items for babies and pets.

The network of Scientific Societies, coordinated by SCARE, enabled 16 locations to receive medications, new medical supplies, and food kits. Donations are received in Bogotá, Medellín, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Tunja, Popayán, Valledupar, Montería, Riohacha, Neiva, Santa Marta, Villavicencio, Pasto, Cúcuta, Bucaramanga, and Sincelejo.

Regarding the food banks, the main points are located in Manizales, Buenaventura, and Dosquebradas, with other points in Medellín, Cali, Bogotá, Armenia, Ibagué, and Bucaramanga.

The National Institute of Health (INS) has an interactive map of the National Blood Bank Network, fed with the Hemovigilance Information System (SIHEVI). People can search for the nearest point to go to make donations.

Authorities emphasize three recommendations when making donations. The first is to deliver at each point what is requested or prioritized. The second is to check the expiration dates of the products being donated and, finally, to make financial contributions through official accounts and channels.

Among these is the campaign #TodosPorColombia of the Colombian Red Cross, through the dale! app and Grupo Aval ATMs, the Bogotá Food Bank, the Solidarity for Colombia Foundation, or the PLAN Foundation.

Meanwhile, the first lady, Ana Lucía Pineda, launched the campaign #ColombiaUnSoloCorazón, which receives donations through the Colombia Light and Smiles Foundation, the Corporation Organization El Minuto de Dios, and Abaco.

For people who want to donate from other countries, the options enabled to do so are the official pages of the Colombian Red Cross, the Food Bank, World Central Kitchen, Plan International, and Unicef.

DATA UNIT