After a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, terminal damage at the city of Pereira’s airport was enough to stop commercial flights, but not the smaller planes carrying humanitarian aid.

“We had the opportunity to get to this airport. We were the only option,” said Pamela Estrada, director general of Patrulla Aérea Civil Colombiana , or PAC, an organization of volunteer pilots that quickly mobilized after the quake.

On August 17, 2026, photos taken in Colombia show widespread damage caused by the devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake.…