Search operations shift to recovery as aid effort grows
A week after a powerful earthquake devastated western Colombia, search teams are working through the rubble in Cali and other cities, but officials acknowledge that the focus is shifting from rescue to recovery. The magnitude-7.5 quake struck Monday morning in San Jose del Palmar, causing severe damage from the Pacific port of Buenaventura to the coffee-growing region and major cities including Cali and Pereira.
Official estimates on Sunday put the death toll at about 290, with more than 140 missing and nearly 4,200 injured. More than two-thirds of the deaths were concentrated in Cali and Pereira, where apartment blocks, homes, churches, schools and hospitals were damaged or destroyed.
In Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, emergency workers were carefully searching unstable piles of concrete and twisted metal. "Unfortunately, there are no signs of life," said Cali fire department Captain Alberto Hernandez. "Miracles can happen, but honestly – as a believer and based on what we have seen – there is no indication that anyone is still alive." He added that aftershocks have increased the danger for crews and residents, and that "work has to be done very carefully and methodically, so we do not put rescuers or community members helping at the site at further risk."
Aid effort expands
As hopes of finding more survivors dim, the relief operation is scaling up. In Bogota, a stadium has been turned into the country's biggest donation collection center, while in Pereira authorities are treating injured pets and distributing donated animal food.
The earthquake is the first major crisis facing President Abelardo De La Espriella, who took office just days before the disaster. On Sunday, he announced that Jaime Gilinski, who also controls food company Nutresa, would donate 150 billion pesos ($47.75 million) to rebuild hospitals and schools in Cali. The Santo Domingo family pledged $32 million on Friday.
Private sector commits to recovery
In a meeting in Barranquilla on Aug. 22, De La Espriella met with some of the country's leading business figures to discuss the private sector's role in rebuilding. Participants included Jaime and Gabriel Gilinski, Alejandro Santo Domingo, Luis Carlos Sarmiento, Fuad Char, Juan Carlos Mora, Cesar Caicedo and Miguel Cortes, representing major banking, industrial, retail and investment groups.
The meeting produced two immediate commitments: lower mortgage rates for earthquake victims and a joint visit to Choco to develop a longer-term recovery plan. The government estimates recovery costs at 30 trillion Colombian pesos ($9.6 billion).
De La Espriella asked Luis Carlos Sarmiento of Grupo Aval, Jaime and Gabriel Gilinski of Banco GNB Sudameris, and Miguel Cortes of Grupo Bolivar, which owns Davivienda, to reduce mortgage rates for eligible earthquake victims. The three agreed to set the rate at 8% effective annual interest for the entire life of the loan, applying to housing loans held by people affected by the earthquake.
The agreement adds to a broader financial response from the banking sector. Asobancaria, the country's banking association, had previously announced a 1.1 trillion-peso financial relief program ($361 million) for people and businesses affected by the disaster.
Additional pledges include the Santo Domingo family's commitment of 100 billion pesos ($33 million) through the Fundacion Santo Domingo; Sarmiento and his wife Fanny Gutierrez de Sarmiento pledged 200 billion pesos ($66 million); Jaime Gilinski pledged 150 billion pesos ($49 million) to reconstruct Cali's hospitals and schools; and David Velez separately committed 100 billion pesos ($33 million). By Aug. 22, private-sector contributions surpassed 2 trillion pesos ($656 million).
Choco recovery plan
De La Espriella and business leaders plan to visit Choco on Sept. 7 to design a recovery and transformation plan. Choco is among the regions most affected by the earthquake and faces longstanding infrastructure and development challenges. The earthquake affected 16 departments and 481 municipalities, with 329 deaths, about 4,600 injuries and 247 missing, according to the government count.