Colombia earthquake: Survivors recount loss of family and life in Risaralda camp

Following a recent earthquake, dozens of families in Colombia are finding refuge in makeshift shelters at Pereira's Parque Olaya Herrera. After a four-hour journey from Cali, a team arrived in the coffee region's heartland to witness families sleeping outdoors, under tents, or in improvised structures while awaiting more permanent solutions from authorities.

The community has shown solidarity, with neighbors and volunteers delivering food, donations, and essential items to those who lost everything. Juan Diego, a construction worker, shared his harrowing experience. The earthquake struck as he was leaving his home, but while his parents on a farm were unharmed, his grandmother and niece were trapped and perished trying to escape their house.

"I lost my grandmother, who raised me... that's what hurts the most," he recounted, facing the daunting task of "starting all over again." Another survivor, Mónica, a candy seller, fled her home after feeling the tremor. Though she suffered no human losses, her house sustained significant roof damage and was deemed unsafe, prompting her to join the camp.

"Even if it's on a mattress, I sleep," she said, expressing the deep uncertainty about the future. Many in the park had lived in rented homes and now lack the funds for new leases, exacerbating their plight. Regular meals are being distributed at the camp, and aid continues to arrive for those both within and near the park who are queuing for assistance.

The coverage will extend to other affected areas in the Risaralda department in the coming days, documenting the ongoing challenges faced by earthquake survivors.