Cali hospitals at maximum capacity after 7.4 magnitude earthquake

Cali's hospitals are at maximum capacity following a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday. The city's health network declared a red alert as hundreds of injured people flooded emergency rooms. Health Secretary Germán Escobar reported 456 injuries and 26 fatalities in Cali alone.

The seismic event also disrupted hospital operations, forcing the evacuation of four major medical centers due to structural damage. The Hospital Universitario del Valle Evaristo García experienced a partial collapse in one wing and is currently operating services from tents in its gardens while engineers assess the building's safety. Other clinics, including Clínica Nuestra Cali, Clínica Dessa, and Clínica Colombia, also sustained structural damage.

To manage the influx of patients, the Health Secretariat suspended non-urgent procedures, including surgeries and consultations. This measure aims to reserve available resources for those affected by the earthquake. Meanwhile, rescue teams continue to assess the quake's impact across other regions. The earthquake's epicenter was in San José del Palmar, Chocó, at a depth of 103 kilometers, according to the Colombian Geological Service. The national death toll has reached 111, with 1,575 homes damaged, 37 destroyed, and 61 buildings collapsed.