Jhon Arias, a World Cup player with Colombia and a former prospect in Mexican football, has dispatched a plane loaded with medical supplies to support victims of a recent earthquake. The donation targets the Chocó region, which was hit hard by the seismic event. Arias, who currently plays for Palmeiras in Brazil, organized the aid effort alongside his wife to assist the area where he was born.
The footballer announced that a private aircraft was on its way to Quibdó. He stated that the plane carries health professionals and necessary medical equipment. “We have provided our own resources a plane that in a few hours will be landing in Quibdó with some professionals from the health area and loaded with medical supplies to try to alleviate a little the health circumstances experienced in our region,” Arias said.
In a video message, the couple expressed solidarity with grieving families and lamented the destruction of housing. Arias emphasized their willingness to help however possible. “We are available to provide the greatest help within our reach. Also give a message of encouragement and encouragement because we know that they are difficult hours, hours of great uncertainty, hours of fear and despair,” he said.
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Devastation in Chocó
The seismic event registered a magnitude of 7.4 on the Richter scale. It struck on Monday. Reports compiled by EFE list the death toll at approximately 240 people. Authorities have recorded hundreds of injuries. The event damaged thousands of residential structures across several departments of the country.
His wife, Alejandra Ayala, also spoke about the difficulties in the region. She noted that Chocó is isolated and lacks clean water. “Chocó is a very isolated department, it does not have drinking water, they close the roads from time to time,” Ayala explained. The couple has opened bank accounts in Colombia and Brazil to raise more funds. She added that everyone can contribute to make the situation more bearable.
Direct private relief often bypasses the logistical delays that hinder larger organizations during the initial response phase. Because Chocó suffers from poor infrastructure and intermittent road closures, a single chartered aircraft can deliver essential supplies faster than ground convoys handling damaged terrain. This immediacy proves vital when standard transport routes are compromised and isolation hinders large-scale aid distribution.
A Career Rebuilt After Mexico
Arias has a history with Mexican football that did not go as planned. He arrived in 2016 at Dorados de Sinaloa’s Under-20 team. His performance earned him a move to the Xolos de Tijuana youth system, which was part of the same ownership group. However, he never caught the eye of manager Miguel Herrera.
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According to reports, the Colombian did not debut with the first team. Transfermarkt records show he only appeared as an unused substitute once in the Copa MX. He subsequently returned to Colombia to continue his career. He played for Patriotas and Llaneros before joining América de Cali, where he won a championship.
His success in Colombia led him to Fluminense in 2021. There, he won the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana. He made his national team debut in 2022. While Colombia did not qualify for the Qatar World Cup, Arias played in the 2026 tournament hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. He scored the winning goal against Ghana in the Round of 16. He has 43 caps and seven goals.
His performance earned him a move to Europe. Wolverhampton paid 17 million euros for him in 2025. However, he stayed only six months. Palmeiras paid 25 million to bring him back to Brazil. Since arriving in February, Arias currently militates for the Verdão, where he has scored 8 goals and provided 3 assists in 31 matches.
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