Cali Begins Demolishing Buildings Damaged by Colombia’s Earthquake

Cali has begun demolishing buildings damaged by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck central-western Colombia on August 10. The disaster has left 331 people dead and 4,505 injured, according to the report.

Authorities said the demolitions would use machinery בלבד, without explosives, because of the danger to neighboring buildings. The first structure selected was the María Mercedes Lloreda building in the Cuarto de Legua neighborhood in southern Cali, one of the areas most affected by the earthquake.

The 22-unit building suffered extensive damage when its first floor collapsed. Elsa Valencia Giraldo, 84, died inside. Mayor Alejandro Eder said the remaining floors had settled over the collapsed level, requiring a controlled operation. Authorities have identified the first 11 buildings to be demolished.

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It will be a controlled demolition, removing debris, because there was a significant partial collapse, with the remaining floors resting where the first one had been.

Officials described the work as “construction in reverse.” Crews will start at the top and remove the structure piece by piece, while trucks carry away the debris. Eder said officials were speaking with affected residents first and taking care to ensure they were not left without support.

The earthquake killed 154 people in Cali and damaged thousands of homes and other buildings. City figures show that 52,809 families have requested damage assessments or declared themselves affected, while 45,139 have been registered as victims. Another 492 people remain in temporary accommodation as authorities work on housing solutions and recovery efforts. Eder said rebuilt homes would mainly go to people who lived in the demolished buildings and families who lost their homes.

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I want to tell citizens that we are carrying out this work with absolute care and sensitivity, speaking first with the affected people and making sure they are not left alone.