Colombia needs at least $9.5 billion for earthquake rebuilding
Rescuers search through the rubble of the Torres del Limonar building in Cali, Colombia, on Aug. 16. Dozens of rescuers from various countries worked to recover bodies from under the debris a week after an earthquake devastated the area. Photo by Mario Baos/EPA
Aug. 18 (UPI) — Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said rebuilding areas devastated by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Aug. 10 will cost more than 30 trillion Colombian pesos, or about $9.5 billion.
De la Espriella said Monday in a televised and radio address that a preliminary assessment by a specialized firm estimated rebuilding costs at 24.5 trillion Colombian pesos or $7.82 billion for buildings and 5.5 trillion pesos ($1.75 billion ) for infrastructure in the departments of Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, Quindío and Caldas.
According to the latest report from Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, the earthquake affected 472 municipalities across 15 departments. De la Espriella said the affected area covers nearly one-third of Colombia’s territory.
The disaster killed 304 people, injured 4,548 and left 426 missing. Nearly 30,000 homes were destroyed and more than 134,000 were damaged.
The earthquake also damaged essential infrastructure, including 303 healthcare facilities, 3,443 educational institutions, 3,905 community centers and 413 roads. Five airports, 86 water supply systems and 62 pedestrian and vehicle bridges were also affected.
De la Espriella said reconstruction efforts will focus primarily on repairing homes and restoring road infrastructure. He also proposed what he described as a historic “Marshall Plan” for Chocó, one of the areas hardest hit by the earthquake.
“This region needs a Marshall Plan that addresses the historic debts owed to one of the country’s most neglected departments,” De la Espriella said. “It is time to rebuild Chocó and to do it properly, with everyone working together.”
The president said he instructed the Housing Ministry to implement what the government calls the “Reconstruction Miracle Plan,” which seeks to coordinate the national government with construction companies, financial institutions, insurers, governors and mayors.
The first phase will prioritize rental subsidies and the deployment of experts to assess damaged structures. A second phase will focus on providing social housing, granting housing subsidies and establishing a materials bank to repair damaged homes and community infrastructure.
De la Espriella also announced the activation of a $200 million World Bank loan. He said the first disbursement is already available to address the most urgent needs of earthquake victims.