200 families sleep in tents in Cali fearing return home after earthquake

In Cali, Colombia, approximately 200 families are living in makeshift tents in the Meléndez Reserve, two nights after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck.

The tremor left visible cracks in their apartment buildings, dislodged ceilings, and compromised structures, leaving residents fearful of re-entering their homes. "When the earthquake started, many of us didn't know where to run. Some rushed down the stairs, others grabbed what they could, and some barely had time to get their children out," said Katherine Almeida, a young resident who has become a community spokesperson.

These tents now serve as their temporary living spaces, housing clothes, photographs, documents, and the few belongings they managed to salvage. Even pets are staying with the families amidst the pervasive uncertainty. Many of these residents are still repaying mortgages on the damaged apartments, while renters have nowhere else to go.

"The towers are destroyed; we don't know if we can go back in. We need the government to send soil experts to tell us if we can return, but the cracks are enormous," Almeida stated. Despite offers of shelter, residents are reluctant to leave, fearing their salvaged possessions might be stolen.

The community is also grappling with grief over a woman who died while shielding her two young children during the quake. According to neighbors, a wall collapsed on her as she embraced her two-year-old daughter and six-year-old son. While the boy was released from the hospital, the girl remains in intensive care. This tragedy adds to the existing vulnerability in the area, a poor district of Cali where a pregnant 21-year-old was murdered last month for her unborn baby.

Volunteers, including medical and psychological professionals, are providing assistance at the camp. Residents have organized shifts to guard the damaged homes and prevent looting while structural assessments continue. The army has provided tents, and people from other parts of Cali are bringing food and water.

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The towers are destroyed; we don't know if we can go back in. We need the government to send soil experts to tell us if we can return, but the cracks are enormous.