Colombia Earthquake Leaves Hundreds Dead, Thousands Displaced; Reconstruction Efforts Begin

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake has devastated large parts of Colombia, claiming 281 lives and leaving thousands injured or missing. The seismic event has displaced nearly 102,105 people from over 44,900 families across 426 municipalities, with 127 buildings reduced to rubble and thousands more homes damaged or destroyed.

President Abelardo de la Espriella announced the initial steps toward reconstruction, emphasizing the need for collaboration with the private sector. He has met with construction industry leaders and various guilds, calling this a "historic moment" that requires the participation of all Colombians, particularly private enterprise, which has stepped forward during this "dire time."

“

this historic moment requires the participation of all Colombians, and especially the private sector, which has stepped forward in this dire time.

Despite the critical 72-hour window for finding survivors having passed, rescue teams continue their work in affected cities like Cali. In Cali, at least a hundred people have died, and numerous residential and commercial buildings collapsed or sustained severe damage. Hundreds of families are sleeping in tents, fearing to return to their homes. In Manizales, six fatalities were reported, and entire neighborhoods face the risk of collapse, with thousands of houses partially damaged or uninhabitable.

Humanitarian aid has begun to reach Quibdó, a city in the Chocó department near the epicenter, which has been the hardest hit. Approximately 18 tons of supplies are being distributed to a population grappling with uncertainty. In this impoverished region, affected residents have relied on solidarity and mutual support networks for survival. The arrival of international aid is proceeding amidst controversy over the government's criteria for authorizing specialized foreign rescue teams, with a Mexican Army brigade currently excluded from operations.

“

We still haven't been told anything, they have only taken a census and we are waiting for them to give us help.