Colombia’s August 10, 2026 earthquake
On August 10, 2026, an earthquake struck Colombia. The disaster hit the western and central parts of the country, including the regions of Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, Quindío, and Caldas. It was the country’s strongest earthquake in a decade, triggering over 100 aftershocks. In the chaotic hours that followed, having a reliable way to communicate became an urgent need alongside shelter and water.
When people suddenly have to leave their homes behind, a phone is often the only thing they carry out with them. Families need to reach each other to confirm everyone is okay and figure out where to meet. A working connection is what allows people to follow live evacuation maps, translate emergency alerts, and tell real news from disinformation. It’s also what gives rescue teams the network they need to coordinate.
Sharing free data to keep Colombia connected
To help people stay online, Saily ran a seven-day initiative, sending existing users in Colombia a code for a free 3 GB plan. That gave people a way to contact their families and follow updates without worrying about running out of data.
Aid workers and rescue teams traveling into Colombia had a different set of needs. Saily shared a public code, “SailySupportsColombia,” on Reddit so anyone heading there to help could get online. For them, a connection means coordinating with their teams, sharing locations, and reporting back from areas where local networks failed.
Over the past week, Saily provided 10,300 GB of free data to people across Colombia. This was the fifth time the company had run a similar initiative — the most recent followed the earthquake in Venezuela in June of the same year. Each initiative is driven by the same belief: Staying connected in a crisis is not a luxury but a necessity.
Beyond Colombia: Staying ready for the next crisis
Saily will keep addressing new connectivity needs as they come up in the affected communities. The period after a disaster is unpredictable, and recovery usually takes longer than the news cycle covering it.
Because rescue teams also need reliable internet to do their work, Saily invites nonprofits to apply for discounted eSIM data plans. If your team needs to stay connected during a crisis, you can look into the Saily nonprofit program or email [email protected].
