Colombia cities initiate demolitions of earthquake-damaged buildings

Following the earthquake on August 10, authorities in Dosquebradas and Cali are conducting controlled demolitions of buildings deemed structurally unsafe.

In Dosquebradas, the municipality has completed 34 of an estimated 110 demolitions, allocating 2.9 billion pesos from its own resources. Mayor Roberto Jiménez Naranjo emphasized that the process follows strict technical and legal protocols to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and properties.

In Cali, the number of structures approved for demolition has increased from 17 to 36 after technical evaluations of over a thousand reported properties. Demolition efforts are concentrated in areas such as the Los Cámbulos neighborhood. Notable structures slated for intervention include the Hotel Metrópolis, D’Corpus, and Cali Express. The Multifamiliar Los Laureles is expected to be demolished via implosion. Each demolition in Cali is estimated to cost between 1 billion and 2 billion pesos, covering machinery and debris removal.