Antioquia Begins Housing Reconstruction After Earthquake; First Materials Arrive

Reconstruction efforts are underway in the Antioquia region of Colombia following an earthquake that struck on August 10th. The provincial government announced the commencement of rebuilding phases in the hardest-hit municipalities of the Southwest, specifically targeting Caramanta, Hispania, and Betania. These three towns received the initial delivery of 96 tons of construction materials, crucial for repairing and rebuilding damaged homes. As of August 21, 2026, the earthquake had impacted over 3,861 homes across Antioquia, with the Southwest and Eastern subregions bearing the brunt of the damage. Additionally, 219 non-residential buildings, including hotels, cultural centers, and police stations, were also affected. A pilot reconstruction program, a collaboration between the Antioquia government, ProAntioquia, Comfama, and the Antioquia Housing Company (VIVA), has been launched in the municipalities of Andes and Ciudad Bolívar, identified as the most severely impacted. This initiative aims to fully reconstruct collapsed homes and improve existing ones, alongside repairing religious sites, hospitals, and schools. Governor Andrés Julián Rendón emphasized that affected families are receiving aid through the VIVA Virtual Materials Bank, with local mayors contributing labor to expedite repairs. The distributed materials will directly benefit 129 households in Caramanta, 51 in Betania, and 88 in Hispania, prioritizing roof repairs and other essential structural work.

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Through the Virtual Materials Bank of the housing company Antioquia VIVA, affected families by the earthquake are already receiving aid. The mayors' offices will contribute local labor, as was their commitment, to start repairs immediately. We are where the people of Antioquia need us.