Pereira begins reconstruction after earthquake: 120,000 affected, damages exceed $10 trillion; recovery to take five years

The city of Pereira is confronting a critical scenario following a devastating magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck on August 10. Official figures released on August 18 indicate that nearly 120,000 people have been affected, and an estimated 35,263 homes have sustained damage.

Authorities calculate the reconstruction costs will reach 10 trillion pesos. This extensive rebuilding effort, coordinated with the national government, is projected to span approximately five years. The earthquake's impact on urban infrastructure is severe, with 15.4% of the city's homes damaged. Additionally, 25 public buildings, 34 health facilities, 165 educational institutions, 2 cultural sites, and 48 critical slopes have been affected.

Technical demolition has been approved for the first 17 structures, a number expected to rise significantly. The commercial sector has been heavily impacted, with 4,658 out of 5,122 registered businesses affected, impacting 15,687 employees. The downtown area was the hardest hit, with 2,781 establishments unable to operate. Rural areas also suffered damage, including structural issues and landslides. To support the affected population, the mayor's office has established eight temporary shelters, assisting over 1,300 individuals and their pets. Due to heavy rains, families are being relocated from parks to safer venues, and 400 hotel rooms with medical assistance have been secured.

The healthcare system is strained, with 98% occupancy in emergency and hospitalization services and 80% in intensive care units. Both public and private hospitals sustained considerable damage. Mental health interventions and vaccinations have been administered during the emergency response. Educational institutions also suffered significant damage, with many requiring complete demolition. However, the school feeding program continues through take-home packages. The initial list of over 200 missing persons has been reduced to 123, partly due to the restoration of telecommunications, which have reached 85% of voice and data signal recovery.