Antioquia declares public disaster after earthquake

On August 21, 2026, the Antioquia region officially entered a new phase of assistance following the earthquake that struck the country on August 10. The departmental public disaster measure was approved to strengthen institutional response and initiate recovery actions in the municipalities that reported damages.

Assessment of damage caused by the tremor

The consolidated survey presents a wide range of structural damage in the region. A total of 4,090 affected homes were counted, with 33 of them completely collapsing. In addition, the event impacted 777 educational centers, 30 hospital centers, 72 religious spaces, 17 roads or bridges, and 162 non-residential facilities.

Housing recovery actions

Governor Andrés Julián Rendón Cardona explained that the official declaration establishes the necessary legal mechanism to manage the resources directed toward recovery. The main objective is to restore the habitability conditions of the affected families. The administration will begin verifying each house to determine which ones can remain occupied and which ones require prior intervention.

Subsidies and humanitarian aid

As part of the institutional response, the departmental administration plans to provide 500 temporary rental subsidies lasting six months for households that cannot remain in their homes. The distribution of emergency humanitarian aid kits is also planned for families identified with the greatest needs in municipal assessments.

Health and multisectoral action plan

In the health sector, the plan provides for the recovery of damaged care centers and the strengthening of support for the population, prioritizing mental health and psychosocial monitoring. The structuring relies on a Specific Action Plan encompassing 45 articulated activities in sectors such as education, health, infrastructure, and housing.

Drinking water and road infrastructure

Management will also focus on repairing aqueducts, replacing collapsed infrastructure, and ensuring alternative supplies against the risks of shortages. Likewise, roads and bridges will be evaluated and repaired to restore connectivity in the affected localities and facilitate the transit of goods and services.

With information from El Colombiano.