Cali Earthquake Leaves Families Homeless, Living in Tents

In Cali, Colombia, around 200 families in the Reserva de Meléndez apartment complex are sleeping under tents after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake left their homes structurally unsound. For two nights, residents have sought refuge in makeshift shelters erected in front of buildings they once called home, now fearing for their safety.

"When the earth began to shake, 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 spokesperson for the community. The tents now serve as their living spaces, holding salvaged belongings like clothes, photographs, and documents, while pets stay close by amidst the uncertainty.

Many residents are still paying off mortgages on their apartments, while others are renters with nowhere else to go. "The towers are destroyed; we don't know if we can go back inside. We need the government to send soil experts to tell us if we can return, but the cracks are enormous," Almeida expressed, highlighting the fear that grips the community. Despite offers of shelter, residents are hesitant to leave, worried about their remaining possessions being stolen.

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When the earth began to shake, 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.

The earthquake has brought personal tragedy, with one woman losing her life while trying to shield her children. Neighbors recounted how a wall collapsed on her as she embraced her two young children, a two-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy. The boy was released from care, but the girl remains in intensive care. This loss adds to a sense of vulnerability in the area, which had already seen a recent violent crime.

Solidarity has emerged amidst the devastation. The army has provided tents, and residents from other parts of Cali are donating food and water. Volunteer doctors and psychologists are offering assistance, and the affected residents have organized security shifts to prevent looting while structural assessments are pending. Even as midday heat makes the tents stifling, children attempt to play.

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