Cali reconstruction after earthquake estimated to take three years

Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder has estimated that the reconstruction of the Colombian city following a 7.4 magnitude earthquake will take approximately three years. The city is currently transitioning from search and rescue operations to a phase focused on assisting victims, recovering bodies, and restoring public services.

The total financial requirement for the recovery is estimated at 10 trillion pesos. This is divided into 4 trillion pesos for immediate emergency stabilization and 6 trillion pesos for the long-term reconstruction and transformation of the city to improve resilience and sustainability. The city administration has pledged to contribute the first 1 trillion pesos from the ‘Invertir para Crecer’ project.

Casualty reports vary; the Institute of Legal Medicine reported at least 139 deaths in Cali and 304 nationwide, while President Abelardo de la Espriella provided a lower national death toll of 289 in a recent address.