Colombia Announces Rent Subsidies for Earthquake Victims

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has announced a rent subsidy program for families who lost their homes in the devastating magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the country on Monday. The government aims to provide immediate relief to those affected by the natural disaster.

In Manizales, the capital of Caldas department, around 1,150 families will benefit from the rental assistance. De la Espriella visited the city, noting the significant damage and expressing empathy for the affected residents. "It broke my heart when I passed through the center of Pereira and saw all those destroyed businesses," he stated during a visit to the city, the capital of Risaralda, another heavily impacted department.

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From yesterday, the national government activated a mechanism to implement the rent subsidy.

The earthquake, which registered a magnitude of 7.4 according to the Colombian Geological Service, occurred on Monday morning with its epicenter near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department. The tremors were felt across several regions. The government has reported 181 fatalities, though regional authorities have compiled slightly higher figures, indicating at least 240 deaths. Efforts are underway to coordinate aid and assess the full extent of the damage across the affected areas, including Quibdó and Cali.

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We will provide this possibility so that people can have a respite in the midst of this tragedy. It broke my heart when I passed through the center of Pereira and saw all those destroyed businesses.