Sixty tons of humanitarian supplies left Miami for earthquake-ravaged Colombia on Monday, Aug. 17, and Miami Beach's four fire stations remain open for donations through Aug. 31.
The Avianca flight carried generators, hygiene kits and non-perishable food to Cali, where Colombian First Lady Ana Lucía Pineda was set to receive the shipment and coordinate distribution to other hard-hit cities. Of the 60 tons, 51 came from Global Empowerment Mission, the Doral-based humanitarian nonprofit coordinating the regional relief effort, and nine tons were assembled by the Colombian government, Diario las Américas reported.
The 7.4-magnitude quake struck western Colombia on Monday, Aug. 10, near San José del Palmar. As of Aug. 16, Reuters reported approximately 290 dead, 140 missing and nearly 4,000 injured, with more than two-thirds of deaths concentrated in Cali and Pereira. GEM teams began distributing family kits inside Colombia on Aug. 12 to hundreds of people sheltering in parks and improvised camps.
About 240,000 Colombians live in South Florida, according to the Palm Beach Post.
How Miami Beach residents can help
Mayor Steven Meiner said on X on Aug. 14 that all four Miami Beach Fire Rescue stations are accepting relief supplies daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Monday, Aug. 31. The stations are:
- Station 1 — 1051 Jefferson Ave.
- Station 2 — 2300 Pine Tree Drive
- Station 3 — 5303 Collins Ave.
- Station 4 — 6880 Indian Creek Drive
Items most needed include tents, tarps, sleeping bags, new blankets, personal hygiene products and first-aid kits with current expiration dates. GEM is not accepting used clothing, shoes or linens.
Tatyana Henríquez, spokeswoman for the "Colombia, un solo corazón" campaign, told Diario las Américas on Aug. 17 that volunteers are urgently needed at GEM's Doral collection center at 1850 NW 84th Ave., Suite 100, to sort, pack and prepare supplies for shipment.
GEM also encourages monetary donations, noting that food and water purchased directly in Colombia reduce transport costs and support local economies. The nonprofit has committed $15 million in aid for Colombia in 2026 and aims to move more than 1,000 pallets from the United States before fall.
Donations collected at Miami Beach fire stations are transferred to GEM for shipment. More information is available at miamibeachfl.gov/colombiarelief.
The collection drive runs through Aug. 31.
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