Sancocho Solidarity Sustains Cali Earthquake Victims in Chiminangos II

A steaming bowl of sancocho trifásico offers a moment of comfort to Albenis Cano, a resident of Cali's Chiminangos II neighborhood. She sits on a blanket on the parched grass, the aroma of the traditional dish a stark contrast to the fear she felt when the 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck.

Cano was with her two grandsons when the tremor hit, causing severe cracks in her apartment building and leaving the stairs on the verge of collapse. "The apartment is cracked, the stairs are about to fall, and we are practically in the street. We need help for all the families in the affected towers," she stated. Her grandson remains deeply affected, suffering from disturbed sleep and heightened nerves.

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It was a terrible moment, because I was with my two grandsons there and the hardest part was that it moved in a horrible way. The scare was so great that my young grandson is very affected: he hasn't been able to sleep and his nerves are altered. The apartment is cracked, the stairs are about to fall, and we are practically in the street. We need help for all the families in the towers that were affected.

More than 60 families were forced to evacuate their homes in Chiminangos II due to the earthquake's severity. Many, like Cano, spent their first night outdoors, clutching small bags with salvaged belongings. "The night was terrible because any noise scared us; it seemed like it was shaking again," she recalled. The fear of aftershocks kept them on edge, with a mattress placed near the door for a quick escape.

While concrete solutions for relocation or home repairs from local authorities are still pending, the community has rallied. Neighborhood leaders have organized to provide meals, like the sancocho served to Cano, to those displaced. The solidarity offers a vital lifeline as residents await an official census and further assistance, navigating the uncertainty of their future.

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The night was terrible because any noise scared us; it seemed like it was shaking again. We had to arrange a mattress near the door so we could run out in case of any emergency.