A Dane living in Colombia has raised nearly 70,000 kroner for families hit by last week’s earthquake in the west of the country.
Christian Frimodt-Møller, who has lived in Colombia for about ten years, began the collection in the days after the quake, DR reports. He was in his eighth-floor apartment in the city of Pereira when the shaking started. Shortly afterward he was left without power and water.
According to DR, the fundraising started with a post on his Facebook page. Friends and acquaintances in Denmark send money, which he and local Colombians spend on the goods most in demand. Frimodt-Møller runs a nature reserve project and a tourist agency in Colombia.
From food to roof sheets
In the first days, he organized locals to drive out with food to families who lacked the most basic supplies. Families with children were prioritized first. DR states that supplies have been gathered for more than 100 families, and that around 50 families have received help so far.
A week after the quake, the most pressing need has shifted from food to building materials. Durable food is now stored for later use, while local drivers deliver roof sheets and timber to families with damaged roofs and unstable houses. Volunteers check which households have the greatest need, and a local driver provides his truck free of charge.
At least 289 people have died, according to local authorities cited by DR. Reuters reported on August 13, 2026 that at least 281 people had been killed and more than 3,900 injured, based on government data. The difference reflects an official toll that has continued to rise.
Reuters reported on August 11, 2026 that the earthquake measured 7.4 in magnitude and that Pereira was among the hardest-hit cities. Rescue crews were still searching collapsed buildings in western Colombia at that point. Reuters also reported that Colombia’s civil aviation authority had suspended operations at several regional airports, including Pereira.
Frimodt-Møller tells DR that rescue work continues in the ruins, while a new phase of clearing has started. He describes the large-scale demolition as beginning now, with bulldozers arriving in the affected areas. In the residential area shown in his photographs, all buildings are to be torn down, because several are leaning and others have collapsed.
Smaller aftershocks are still being felt, and the psychological effects remain visible, according to his account to DR. He says even light tremors or strong wind put nerves on edge. He adds that people are clearing up and returning to ordinary life, and that Colombia is a strong country.
Danes abroad who organize cross-border donations often rely on informal transfers from private networks, as in this case.
