The powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10 has left behind incalculable damage, transforming vast swaths of the country into landscapes of utter devastation.
A week after the devastating toll, the country’s president, Abelardo de la Esperanza , made official announcements, revealing the enormity of the tragedy. According to the first preliminary estimate, the material damage reaches the astronomical sum of 9.57 billion dollars , a figure that demonstrates the unprecedented scale of the blow to the national economy and infrastructure.
The enormous cost of the disasters, which was calculated in detail by a private company , concerns approximately one third of the country , confirming that this is one of the largest natural disasters in the modern history of the state.
The human toll is equally dramatic, plunging the nation into mourning. The Colombian president, in his statements, revised the death toll downwards, confirming that 289 people lost their lives under the rubble. At the same time, the hospitals and medical centers that remained standing are currently treating 4,187 injured people , while anxiety is escalating for the 143 missing .
Unfortunately, as rescue teams and technical teams continue to clear the rubble , the hopes of finding survivors are now considered minimal. The impact of Enceladus was so severe that thousands of homes , apartment buildings, schools and hospitals collapsed completely.
The areas that were hit hardest and mourned the most victims are mainly located in cities along the Pacific Ocean coast , as well as in the wider coffee-producing region , which is a key pillar of local development and employment.
Describing the dramatic situation prevailing in these zones, President De la Esprija called on citizens to reflect on the scale of the disaster . As he characteristically stated, the unimaginable sum of 9.57 billion dollars is only a preliminary amount , which is expected to change and probably increase, as state authorities continue to receive more information and the picture of the flattened settlements becomes clearer in each region .
Managing this deep crisis is also the first major challenge for the country’s new right-wing government . The political landscape is completely unique, as the new president had officially taken office on August 7 , just three days before the deadly earthquake . This event forced him to quickly move from the festive atmosphere of the inauguration to managing a national emergency.
Faced with this enormous humanitarian and housing crisis, the government immediately put the plan into action the next day. The president announced that he had assigned the Minister of Housing to immediately implement an ambitious and necessary program called the “Miracle Reconstruction Plan.” This is a gigantic reconstruction effort that requires the absolute partnership of the public and private sectors.
For the successful execution of the plan, the immediate support of construction companies for the construction of new infrastructure was requested, as well as the assistance of financial institutions to ensure liquidity. Insurance companies will play a key role in the compensation of those affected, while the organization of work in the field will be carried out in full coordination with local governors and mayors .
Finally, the overwhelming burden of reconstruction and relief will not be borne by the country alone. Colombia has already begun to receive valuable assistance from powerful international partners.
The US and the EU rushed to assist with resources, expertise and humanitarian material, while the active support of global financial institutions, such as the World Bank , is expected to be crucial for the coming days, which will facilitate smooth financing for the complete regeneration of the areas that Enceladus turned into ruins.
