Five siblings lose mother after earthquake and are left homeless

On August 20, 2026, five siblings are facing a dramatic situation after losing their mother and their home as a result of a 7.4-magnitude earthquake. The mother was hospitalized in an intensive care unit at the San Francisco de Asís Hospital and did not survive her injuries.

The loss of their mother and the siblings' new reality

The eldest sister turned 18 and is now responsible for her younger siblings. The ages of the siblings are nine, ten, thirteen, fifteen, and eighteen. Heidy Rojas reported that the family has been facing very difficult times due to the loss of their mother and their temporary housing situation.

Difficulties with the rain and temporary shelter

The siblings are sheltered in a place lent by a neighbor, but the roof is about to collapse. With rainy days, water leaks into the shelter, and the young people constantly have to move their beds to keep everything from getting wet. The family's main need at the moment is housing roofing, although they have already received some donations of clothing and food.

Solidarity from neighbors in the community

Residents of the Zúñiga neighborhood, in the Fuego Verde sector of Quibdó, have been supporting the siblings with donations and solidarity. Neighbors point out that the mother was a hardworking woman and that everyone in the community is dealing with collective grief over the destroyed homes and the death of their neighbor.

Institutional assistance and the family's future

The family has already received their first visit from Bienestar Familiar to assess the situation. Sources indicate that the next step may involve searching for extended family members, such as aunts, uncles, cousins, or grandparents, and the adult sister may try to assume custody, depending on meeting legal requirements. Heidy also expresses her desire to study to generate income for her younger siblings.

Critical hospital situation after the earthquake

The San Francisco de Asís Hospital, where the mother was hospitalized, is suffering from a critical hospital network and has already transferred more than 30 patients to Antioquia due to the severity of their injuries. Local health units faced structural difficulties, such as a damaged blood bank refrigerator that was recently replaced through a donation.

Official toll of those affected by the disaster

According to the latest balance from the Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres released on the morning of August 20, 2026, the disaster left 153,336 families and 282,709 people affected. The registry shows 319 dead, 4,506 injured, 260 missing, and 364 rescued.

With information from El Colombiano.