Risaralda earthquake victims demand urgent government aid

Following a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake on August 10, local authorities and indigenous leaders in the Risaralda department are calling for urgent national government intervention to address a growing humanitarian crisis.

In Dosquebradas, Mayor Roberto Jiménez Naranjo has requested immediate financial and logistical assistance, noting that the municipality has exceeded its capacity to respond. The disaster has left approximately 16,000 people affected, with 10,000 damaged homes and 2,000 houses completely destroyed. The mayor emphasized that while local teams have been efficient in organizing shelters and mapping damage, the scale of the destruction requires heavy machinery and state subsidies for reconstruction.

Simultaneously, the Karedúa indigenous community in La Celia reports a total absence of municipal, departmental, or international aid. Community leader Julio César Niaza stated that over 50 families are affected, with more than 30 homes damaged. The earthquake has also compromised water access and destroyed essential plantain crops. Residents have been forced to organize their own recovery efforts, using traditional materials to rebuild shelters to protect themselves from the rain.