Colombia is confronting the daunting task of rebuilding after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake killed at least 285 people and devastated communities across the western part of the country. The disaster has left more than 100,000 people displaced, with tens of thousands of homes destroyed or severely damaged.
Authorities also reported damage to thousands of schools, medical facilities, and community centers in over 400 cities. The earthquake, which struck Monday, is the most powerful to hit Colombia this century.
In Cali, one of the hardest-hit cities, resident Ebert Jonathan Morales described losing everything. "There is no place to live, we lost everything," Morales, 38, told The Associated Press. He is among the estimated 102,263 individuals whose lives have been upended. The government has confirmed over 280 deaths, with nearly 4,000 injured and hundreds still missing. Private groups, however, estimate the number of missing in the thousands.
President Abelardo de la Espriella, who was inaugurated just days before the earthquake, acknowledged the complex situation. He announced a plan to partner with private companies for reconstruction efforts and introduced subsidies for homeless families. "We will not overcome this tragedy alone as a government," de la Espriella stated Thursday night. "We need the private sector to rebuild Colombia together."
National and international funds are being directed toward reconstructing hospitals, schools, homes, roads, and airports. However, a thorough technical assessment is required to determine which buildings are salvageable, which can be repaired, and which must be demolished. "Before even discussing reconstruction, we must guarantee temporary housing, food, healthcare, continuity of basic services and economic support for families who lost their homes or livelihoods," said Yezid Alvarado Vargas, a professor of construction engineering at Javeriana University.
Local authorities have opened schools, parks, and public buildings as shelters, providing essential supplies. In areas less accessible, residents have improvised shelters, and volunteers are rushing to provide aid. Save the Children in Colombia highlighted the extreme vulnerability of these already neglected regions, describing the situation as "a crisis on top of a crisis."
President de la Espriella is scheduled to visit several affected cities to monitor relief efforts. Colombia is also awaiting tons of supplies and humanitarian aid from countries including Peru, China, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates.