Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella announced new economic assistance packages on Friday for families affected by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Cali. The city suffered the highest casualties in the country during the disaster earlier this month.
The earthquake struck Colombia on August 10, killing 331 people and injuring 4,449 across the nation, according to official figures from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD). Cali, the capital of the southwestern department of Valle del Cauca, registered 154 of those deaths.
De la Espriella opened his official visit to Cali by attending a Catholic mass in memory of the 154 victims who died in the city. Following the service, the president handed over heavy yellow machinery and building materials to local municipal authorities to begin clearing debris and restoring infrastructure.
Speaking to disaster survivors, De la Espriella reassured victims that they would not be left alone and promised that government aid would continue to flow. He emphasized that financial relief would be distributed directly to affected citizens without intermediaries or administrative detours, warning that a disaster of such scale must not be exploited for political posturing or personal gain.
Financial Assistance and Housing Support
Under the emergency measures outlined by the president, eligible households will receive a monthly rental subsidy of 1,050,000 Colombian pesos, worth approximately $327. The financial support will run for three months initially, with an option to extend the subsidy for an additional three months for families registered in the Single Register of Emergency Families (RUFE).
The government program distinguishes between structural destruction and partial building damage. Families whose residences were destroyed or deemed uninhabitable after technical inspections will receive direct economic support to find alternative housing, while residents with damaged but structurally sound homes will receive repair kits containing building materials to complete local fixes.
To manage the distribution of supplies and assess structural safety, the government established a construction materials bank alongside dedicated technical evaluation teams operating throughout the Valle del Cauca department.
Private sector partners are also contributing to the relief effort. Colombian construction company Marval donated 20 building vouchers and four fully furnished apartments to families who lost their homes during the tremor.
Among the recipients of the new housing is Diana Troncoso, a survivor who spent 29 hours trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed apartment towers in Cali's El Limonar neighborhood before rescue crews pulled her free.
Long-Term Reconstruction Plan
Cali Mayor Alejandro Éder declared that the city is transitioning into a long-term reconstruction phase, cautioning residents that full recovery will be a marathon lasting at least three years. Municipal teams have received damage reports for approximately 12,000 buildings across the city.
Inspectors have completed structural assessments on roughly 1,200 of those reported structures so far. More than 600 buildings have been evacuated as a precautionary measure due to structural safety concerns.
Éder highlighted the severe economic and human toll on local residents, noting that many victims lost not only parents, children, uncles, or grandfathers, but also their lifetime savings. He stressed that affected families require sustained public and private support to recover from the devastation.
The mayor called for a broad alliance to rebuild the regional hub, emphasizing that Cali cannot complete the effort alone. He urged coordinated action involving the national government, private businesses, financial institutions, the construction industry, academic institutions, social organizations, emergency relief agencies, insurance companies, and international aid organizations.
