Cali Ends Earthquake Victim Search, Begins Reconstruction

Cali has officially concluded its search and rescue efforts after a devastating magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck southwestern Colombia on August 10. The final phase of operations ended with the recovery of the last person trapped in a collapsed building. The city now faces the daunting task of reconstruction, beginning with the demolition of unsafe structures and the removal of debris.

The official report from the Prosecutor's Technical Investigation Unit confirmed 150 deaths in Cali, the capital of Valle del Cauca. Of these, 140 victims have been returned to their families. Emergency teams successfully rescued 88 survivors and provided aid to over 1,500 injured individuals. Currently, 50 people remain hospitalized, some in critical condition, and four have required amputations.

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This is just the beginning, and we will rise again as a rebuilt and stronger city.

Mayor Alejandro Eder acknowledged the difficult and painful moment for the city, praising the efforts of rescuers, volunteers, law enforcement, and medical personnel. "This is just the beginning, and we will rise again as a rebuilt and stronger city," he stated, emphasizing the local administration's commitment to the future. The earthquake's social impact is significant, with over 15,000 homes sustaining damage. The national government plans to provide direct financial assistance to affected areas. Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara announced that "life aid" subsidies, managed by the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, will be disbursed starting next week to directly support affected communities.

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Now comes a stage to channel, starting next week, 'life aid'. This is a monetary subsidy managed through the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) so that it reaches communities directly.