The death toll continued to rise past 200 in western Colombia after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake shook towns and cities on Monday the 10th of August, causing nearly 2,000 buildings to collapse and injuring nearly 3,000. It was the strongest earthquake to strike Colombia in 100 years and came only weeks after two earthquakes shattered Venezuela in June.

Updates were provided to Newsline by Greg Mossop GØDUB, emergency communications coordinator for IARU Region 1 and posted on the Region 1 website.

Members of the Colombian Amateur Radio League Amateur activated in support of the Colombia Red Cross. Carlos Alberto Santamaria Gonzalez, CO2JC, the IARU's Region 2 emergency coordinator said that Faber Mosquera, HK6F, the league's emergency coordinator was coordinating operations with the National Disaster Risk Management System. Faber Mosquera also joined the Urban Search and Rescue unit of the Colombian Red Cross which was headed to the city of Cali.

IARU Region 2 asked hams to monitor league frequencies on 80, 40, 20, 17 and 15 metres as well as 2 metres simplex and to keep those frequencies clear of transmissions.

In Risaraldo, the Radio Amateurs from the Coffee Axis Amateur Radio Association, HK6REC, made their repeaters and other resources available to support the hard-hit city of Pereira. Association president Nahir Rios, HK6JSP, was directing his volunteer radio operators to assist where needed. There had been assistance from the LRM, the Liga Radio Manizales, HK6RM, as early as Monday evening, following the quake, The group added their Echolink system to the national frequency to provide more communication resources.