NewsOn October 6, the stabilization phase began, which includes the demolition of structures and the start of reconstruction. The demolition and debris management process continues in Cali two months after the earthquake. Photo: Jaiver Nieto Álvarez. MEDELLÍN JOURNALIST10.10.2026 11:37 Updated: 10.10.2026 11:37
This August 10 marked two months since San José del Palmar was the epicenter of one of the strongest earthquakes in the country's history. The magnitude 7.4 quake particularly affected several regions of the country. Valle del Cauca was one of the departments hardest hit, in part due to the soil liquefaction phenomenon that occurred in the city. In the capital of Valle del Cauca, 24 homes collapsed completely and 506 more suffered partial collapses. According to official records from the city's Mayor's Office, 154 people died in Cali and 45,139 were left homeless after the earthquake. SEE ALSO Damage in Cali from the August 10 earthquake. Photo: Juan Pablo Rueda / EL TIEMPODuring these two months, the municipal administration has been carrying out various processes related to the damage: delivery of aid (more than 570 tons delivered), debris collection (more than 95,000 tons managed) and, mainly, structural assessments, which were carried out in more than 1,800 visits. It should be noted that, currently, 1,200 buildings remain evacuated. As a result of those visits, the District characterized 4,733 buildings. Of the structures evaluated, 1,787 were classified as uninhabitable and 1,422 as unsafe. It was precisely in the context of those evaluations that the full impact of the earthquake was determined and, two months after the quake, a new consequent phase began in Cali: the demolition of damaged and uninhabitable structures. This new stage of post-earthquake interventions began last Tuesday, October 6. In total, 63 buildings were marked with a red X on their facades, indicating irreparable structural damage that makes them unviable. SEE ALSO Building marked as uninhabitable and identified for demolition. Photo: Jaiver Nieto Álvarez. In this process, the first 36 will be demolished, following a comprehensive evaluation that made it possible to prioritize which buildings must come down first. According to Mayor Alejandro Éder, this phase is one of 'stabilization.' The mayor reported that three buildings have been demolished so far and there are 10 active demolition sites. Éder expressed that he hopes that in the coming days, with the 'Fondo Milagro' coming into operation, between 20 and 30 additional demolition sites can be opened. The goal is for this phase to proceed quickly and without causing further distress to affected residents. In this demolition stage there is a very particular process, permeated by health-related requirements, which is debris management. The mayor of Cali explained: "This debris cannot be processed like other debris; it must be treated differently, undergo pathological study, and we seek to recover whatever debris we can in terms of reuse." SEE ALSO Debris removal in Cali after the earthquake. Photo: Jaiver Nieto Álvarez.Éder explained that this process is costly. Without the support of the 'Fondo Milagro,' carrying out this stage would leave a fiscal hole in the city. The mayor indicated that the cost of demolishing a building is between 1,500 and 2,000 million pesos, while the processing and handling of the debris exceeds 10,000 million pesos per month. The mayor specified that it is expected that by the end of November all identified buildings will have been demolished and cleared. In addition, it is projected that by the first week of December, construction of the first two residential towers for people who lost their homes will begin. Éder revealed that the most advanced project is located in Cuarto de Legua, one of the neighborhoods hardest hit by the earthquake. NICOLÁS TAMAYO ESCALANTEJournalist for Nación. Follow all the news from Colombia on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter.
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