Hospital crisis in Cali following 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia
The city of Cali is in a critical situation following the devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia this Monday. According to local Health Secretary Germán Escobar, hospital centers in the capital of Valle del Cauca have reached 100% capacity, forcing authorities to declare a red hospital alert immediately.
The impact of the earthquake has been devastating, leaving a preliminary toll of at least 26 people dead and 456 injured in this city alone. The healthcare infrastructure has been one of the sectors most affected by the natural disaster.
Severe damage to medical infrastructure
Four of the most important medical centers in Cali were forced to evacuate their facilities. Among them, the Evaristo García University Hospital of the Valley (HUV) stands out, which suffered the partial collapse of one of its wings. Given the impossibility of using the internal areas, the medical staff has set up tents in the facility’s gardens to continue providing assistance to patients while structural damage is being assessed.
Other institutions reporting serious damage to their structures are:
- Nuestra Cali Clinic
- Dessa Clinic
- Colombia Clinic
To manage the emergency, the health system has ordered the cancellation and rescheduling of elective surgeries and outpatient consultations, prioritizing exclusively the care of emergencies derived from the earthquake.
National assessment after the earthquake
The magnitude of the disaster has mobilized all national authorities, with a report amounting to 111 deaths and significant material damage in various regions of the country.
The earthquake, with its epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó, reached a depth of 103 kilometers, affecting a large part of central and western Colombia. The country’s president, Abelardo de la Espriella, reported in his first public statement that, nationwide, 1,575 homes have been damaged, 37 structures have been completely destroyed, and 61 buildings have collapsed, while relief agencies continue with rescue and damage assessment efforts.
