Colombia's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) has released an official guide detailing essential actions to take before, during, and after earthquakes [1].
These guidelines are critical for protecting lives and reducing the severity of injuries and property damage in a region prone to seismic activity [1], [3].
The UNGRD and other civil protection authorities developed the quick-reference guide to standardize how citizens respond to tremors [1]. The instructions emphasize a three-stage approach to safety: preparation, immediate reaction, and post-event recovery [2].
Preparation focuses on creating a list of essential elements for an emergency kit. Authorities recommend that households maintain supplies that can sustain them during the immediate aftermath of a disaster [1]. This proactive approach is intended to minimize panic and ensure that basic needs are met when emergency services may be overwhelmed [1].
During a seismic event, the guide provides specific behavioral recommendations to avoid injury. This includes identifying safe zones within buildings and avoiding elevators or precarious structures [2]. The guidance aims to correct common misconceptions about seismic activity. Jesenia Figueroa Nieves, coordinator of the Education Area, said that many people believe a "temblor" is small and a "terremoto" is large, but the terms are synonyms [4].
Post-event instructions focus on cautious evacuation and checking for injuries. The guidelines advise citizens to remain alert for aftershocks, and to follow only official communication channels to avoid misinformation [2].
While the current focus is on Colombian safety, regional comparisons highlight similar risks across Latin America. For example, a separate report noted a tremor measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale [5] that occurred at 8:40 a.m. [5] in the Dominican Republic, illustrating the constant threat in the Caribbean and South American belts. Other nations have utilized similar frameworks, such as the National Drill held in 2026 [3], to test public readiness.
“The instructions emphasize a three-stage approach to safety: preparation, immediate reaction, and post-event recovery.”
The release of this guide indicates a shift toward decentralized disaster resilience in Colombia, moving the responsibility of immediate survival from state first-responders to the individual household. By standardizing the 'emergency kit' and reaction protocols, the UNGRD aims to lower the casualty rate during the critical first hour of a disaster when professional rescue teams are often unable to reach affected zones.
