Colombia begins recovery phase after devastating earthquake
One week after the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that shook Colombia, emergency efforts have entered a transition phase. Rescue teams are focusing their efforts on recovering the bodies of victims from under the rubble, while the country begins to organize the complex reconstruction of the affected areas.
According to the most recent report from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), the official death toll stands at 289, following a data cleansing process to avoid duplicates. The toll of the tragedy includes 4,187 injured, 143 missing, and 354 people rescued alive. In terms of infrastructure, the impact is massive: more than 127,000 homes have suffered damage and nearly 27,000 have been destroyed, affecting 450 municipalities across 15 departments.
Cali: epicenter of recovery and solidarity
In Cali, one of the cities with the most damage, debris removal operations are progressing steadily. Local experts in collaboration with international teams have indicated that the window of opportunity to find survivors has practically closed after 140 hours of uninterrupted work. The mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder, projects that the city will require an investment of approximately 10 trillion pesos and a period of three years to achieve a resilient reconstruction.
The sports and business sector joins the cause
Solidarity has not been long in coming. From the sports field, former soccer player Mario Yepes has led the initiative for the charity match “Let’s Lift Colombia,” which will take place at the El Campín stadium in Bogotá with the participation of legendary figures of national soccer. For its part, the Colombian business sector has made significant contributions, highlighting the donation of 150 billion pesos by the Gilinski family, destined for the rehabilitation of hospital and educational centers.
The emergency thus enters a new stage, marked by mourning and recovery, but also by the challenge of rebuilding the hardest-hit areas of the country.
Despite progress in urban centers, rural areas in departments like Valle del Cauca have reported difficulties in receiving assistance. Populations in Ansermanuevo and El Cairo have requested a greater state presence, while authorities work to expand the census of those affected and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the most remote corners where families have lost their homes and livelihoods.
