Cali Concludes Earthquake Rescues, Begins Reconstruction

Cali, Colombia, has officially ended its search and rescue efforts two weeks after a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the country's southwest on August 10. The last person trapped in a collapsed building in the city has been located, marking the transition to a new phase of recovery.

The focus in Cali, the capital of Valle del Cauca, now shifts to demolishing structures deemed at risk of collapse, removing debris, and beginning the extensive reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by the seismic event. Mayor Alejandro Eder confirmed the end of the search operations, expressing sorrow for the lives lost while thanking rescuers, volunteers, medical personnel, and security forces.

"Although this is difficult, I want to tell the people of Cali that this is just the beginning, and we will rise again in a rebuilt city, stronger, for our youth and our future," Eder stated. In Cali alone, the official toll stands at 150 fatalities, with 140 bodies identified and returned to families. During the emergency, 88 people were rescued alive, and over 1,500 were injured. Currently, 50 residents remain hospitalized, some in serious condition, and four have undergone amputations.

Nationally, the Colombian government's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) reports a grim toll of 321 deaths. The disaster has left 257 people missing, 4,595 injured, and 364 rescued alive across the country. The earthquake, the strongest to hit Colombia in 25 years, has displaced 146,188 families, affecting 284,185 people in 476 municipalities across 15 of the country's 32 departments. The epicenter was in San José del Palmar, Chocó, with significant impacts also felt in Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, Caldas, and Quindío.

The UNGRD's consolidated data indicates severe damage to housing, with 31,445 homes completely destroyed and another 163,884 suffering varying degrees of damage. A total of 467 buildings have collapsed, primarily in Cali and Pereira. In Cali, over 15,000 households reported property losses and are awaiting state financial aid. Public infrastructure, including educational, road, and health facilities, has also sustained severe damage.