This weekend, following 124 hours of uninterrupted operation by the Colombian Amateur Radio League (LCR) National Emergency Network, the emergency frequencies used by Colombian radio amateurs —deployed in response to the earthquake that shook much of the country on August 10— were released. We have listed these frequencies at the end of this report.

The release of these frequencies does not mean that communications have ceased; rather, the network remains locally active in each affected department and city, managed by the radio clubs and amateur radio associations based there, while authorities work to regain control and restore the functionality of their own communication systems.

Additionally, the IARU Region 2 emergency coordination team remains in contact with Faber Mosquera (HK6F) and José Fernando Vélez (HK4VEL) of the LCR. They have provided updates on the participation of their fellow radio amateurs through various clubs and associations and expressed their gratitude for the support received from emergency coordinators across the region’s associations and countries.

During the final days of the past week, a link was established connecting the city of Popayán —via EchoLink*— with Liga Radio Cali, Liga Radio Medellín, and the “Eje Connet” network in the Coffee Axis region.

Also in recent days, a USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) team conducted rescue operations in Pereira with the support of the Sabaneta Fire Department; several radio amateurs communicated with this USAR team in Pereira via radio. Sabaneta is a municipality located in the southern part of the Medellin Metropolitan Area.

At the same time, a Starlink system was installed in Pereira to provide people with internet access and a way to communicate with their families; the system will remain open and operational for one week. Furthermore, support was provided for the distribution of 600 prepared meal rations offered to volunteers from the Asociación de Radioaficionados del Eje Cafetero (Asorec); with the assistance of amateur radio operators and in coordination with the Scout Movement, these were delivered to some of the city’s hardest-hit areas.

Once again, the strong relationship and essential support between commercial broadcasting and amateur radio were highlighted. Specifically, technical assistance was provided to “Radio Reloj” —a popular and highly credible station serving the city and surrounding areas that had gone off the air— to get it back on the air. The goal was to enable it to broadcast instructions and other information issued by the Risaralda Risk Management Service.

I also wish to acknowledge the excellent work performed by LCR amateur radio operators across various clubs and associations, including the Asociación de Radioaficionados del Eje Cafetero (Asorec), the Liga Radio Quindío in the city of Armenia, and the Liga Radio Medellín —which maintains regional links with the Radio Club de Antioquia— among others.

Additionally, Jaime Hernando Duarte (HK6W), Director of Area E, Region 2 of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU R2), and José Arturo Molina (YS1MS), President of IARU R2, have remained constantly informed about all developments.

Frequencies released that were previously in use by the LCR:

80 m: 3985 kHz
40 m: 7060, 7240, and 7275 kHz
20 m: 14300 kHz
17 m: 18160 kHz
15 m: 21360 kHz

We once again appreciate the support of Sigfrido Estuardo Rodas Paz, TG9SRP —Coordinator of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service for the Club de Radio Aficionados de Guatemala (CRAG)— in the preparation of the infographic and other materials related to this topic.

*Echolink: A free system for amateur radio operators that uses the Internet and Voice over IP (VoIP) technology to connect traditional radios with computers and smartphones via the Internet.

Carlos Alberto Santamaría González, CO2JC
IARU Region 2 Emergency Coordinator.

Ageng Aditya, YB1BTM the Chair of the IARU-R3 Disaster Communication Committee reports that following the major magnitude 7.7 earthquake which struck the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) region of Indonesia early in the morning local time amateur radio operators in Indonesia and throughout the Region are respectfully requested to keep 7.110 MHz clear as it is being used for HF emergency communications, while 145.100 MHz is being used for local VHF coordination in affected areas.

Preliminary reports indicate damage to buildings and disruption to normal communications infrastructure in several affected areas so all amateur radio operators are requested to give absolute priority to emergency and disaster-relief traffic on these frequencies and to monitor without transmitting unless specifically requested to assist.

The IARU Region 3 Disaster Communication Committee, together with the relevant emergency communication coordinators and IARU Region 3 officials, remains on standby and is coordinating as necessary to support any requests for amateur radio emergency communication assistance.

They appreciate the cooperation and discipline of the amateur radio community during this emergency.

UPDATE 31^st August
Ageng YB1BTM confirms that the emergency frequencies are no longer in use for this earthquaks in Indonesia. He would like to thank all fellow members of the disaster communication committee and amateurs for the support during the rescue operation. 

Carlos Alberto Santamaría González, CO2JC the IARU R2 Emergency Coordinator reports that members of the Colombian Amateur Radio League (LCR) are active alongside the Colombian Red Cross following the 7.4 magnitude earthquake at 07:34 on 10^th August 2026. The event registered a magnitude of 7.4 and was followed by several aftershocks exceeding magnitude 2.0, including one of 4.8 at 08:18 local time.

Faber Mosquera (HK6F), the emergency coordinator for the Colombian Amateur Radio League has said that damage assessments were underway in the departments of the Coffee Axis and the Colombian Pacific coast — the areas most severely affected — and that he was already coordinating with the
National Disaster Risk Management System.

In Colombia, the LCR uses the International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 (IARU R2) frequencies for emergency communications, as follows:

80 m: 3985 kHz
40 m: 7060, 7240, and 7275 kHz
20 m: 14300 kHz
17 m: 18160 kHz
15 m: 21360 kHz
2 m: 146.520 MHz (simplex)

IARU Region 2 asks all fellow radio amateurs to keep these frequencies clear and simply monitor them, in case assistance is needed by our Colombian colleagues.

UPDATE 0500UTC 11^th August.

Radio Amateurs from the Asociación de Radioaficionados del Eje Cafetero (ASOREC) —an LCR-affiliated group (call sign HK6REC) based in Dos Quebradas, Risaralda— have made their communications infrastructure, including repeater stations, available to support communications in Pereira. Pereira is believed to be the area that sustained the most significant damage from the earthquake.
ASOREC volunteers are operating under the leadership of their president, Nahir Rios (HK6JSP), and —at least for the time being— have supplies of water, food, and backup power sufficient for 72 hours.

This Monday evening, colleagues from the Radio Club of Antioquia maintained contact with ASOREC members in Dos Quebradas via the repeater station located on Padre Amaya Hill in Medellín (operating on 146.910 MHz), as well as through the Eje Cafetero frequency of 146.070 MHz. Additionally, we learned that the Liga Radio Manizales (LRM) —call sign HK6RM— linked their Echolink* system to the national frequency, thereby establishing a connection with ASOREC. Meanwhile, Faber Mosquera (HK6F), the LCR’s Emergency Coordinator, joined the USAR COL-17 team —the Urban Search and Rescue unit of the Colombian Red Cross (Quindío Chapter) —as it deployed to the city of Cali.

This page will be updated if and when further information becomes available.

Following the fatal earthquake in Venezuela on Wednesday at 5:04 PM local time (10:04 PM UTC), local radio amateurs have asked that that all amateur radio colleagues in the Americas and the rest of the world protect the following frequency used by Venezuelan amateur radio operators:

40 m: 7135 kHz.

Domingo L. Hernández Lima, YV5IZE, director of the Venezuelan Radio Club’s National Emergency Network reports that a large part of the capital is without electricity and communication systems are operating on battery power. They were already activating their emergency shortwave (HF) frequency and also using digital frequencies and communication modes.

At the same time, the emergency communications coordinators of amateur radio operators from Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and other countries in the region, as well as members of the Board of Directors of the International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 (IARU R2), remain on standby to provide any assistance that may be needed.

Information received from Carlos Alberto Santamaría González, CO2JC, Emergency Communications Coordinator, IARU R2.

The ARRL have requested operators in IARU region 2 to avoid emergency frequencies likely to be in use by emergency communications groups during this weekend which is the CQ WW SSB contest. 

The full article is at;

https://​www​.arrl​.org/​n​e​w​s​/​i​m​p​o​r​t​a​n​t​-​n​o​t​i​c​e​-​k​e​e​p​-​c​l​e​a​r​-​o​f​-​e​m​e​r​g​e​n​c​y​-​f​r​e​q​u​e​n​c​i​e​s​-​d​u​r​i​n​g​-​t​h​e​-​c​o​n​t​e​s​t​-​w​e​e​k​end

The frequencies specifically requested to be avoided are;

40 meters: 7.198 MHz and 7.098 MHz
20 meters: 14.198 MHz
and if their Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) activates, they will be operating on:
14.325 MHz
7.268 MHz ( not an issue in IARU Region 1 ).

Please keep clear of the frequencies stated and be aware of possible emergency or health-and-welfare traffic on nearby frequencies.