Cali honors 154 earthquake victims with memorial plantings

One month after the earthquake on August 10, 2026, the city of Cali held ceremonies to honor the 154 people who lost their lives in the disaster.

In Parque Panamericano, the Corporación Autónoma Regional del Valle del Cauca (CVC) and community leaders began planting 154 native trees to serve as a living memorial. The first phase of the project involved planting 40 specimens, including a chambimbe tree, in an effort to transform concrete areas into green spaces. The CVC reported that between 2020 and 2026, it has planted 59,000 trees in Cali.

Additionally, a memorial plaque featuring the names of all 154 victims was unveiled at the COP16 Biodiversity Ecopark. The ceremony included a moment of silence marked by 90 seconds of church bells, coinciding with the duration of the seismic movement. The event was attended by Mayor Alejandro Eder, along with representatives from the military, police, and emergency response organizations such as the Red Cross and Civil Defense.