Evacuation in Medellín condominiums: panic, rumors and gaps

On the morning of August 10, 2026, a quake shook Medellín, testing the response capacity of thousands of condominium residents. The event revealed critical flaws in evacuation plans and how quickly false information spread.

Condominiums and the evacuation challenge

Medellín has approximately 450,000 condominiums, most of them residential buildings. In a complex in Loma de los Bernal, with more than 500 apartments and around 2,000 residents, the lack of clear evacuation guidelines was evident. In another Belén condominium, a woman with reduced mobility had to descend 12 floors with the help of a neighbor, receiving no support from a first‑aid brigade.

WhatsApp: support and rumor dissemination

Residents' WhatsApp groups were both a source of useful information and a vector for false news. Messages circulated containing data from reliable sources, but also rumors such as: “Ya viene la otra réplica, a las 9:15 a. m., y será más fuerte que el temblor de las 7:34 a. m.” This nonexistent alert caused a stir, preventing some residents from returning to their apartments.

Public authorities' response

Medellín mayor Federico Gutiérrez used the X social network to deny the rumor, stating: “Le pido a la gente no reenviar cadenas o información falsa. Los sismos son impredecibles, no es posible saber si habrá o no una réplica”. The message aimed to curb panic, but did not replace the need for concrete guidance from condominium administrations.

Dagrd safety guidelines

Diego Peña, geologist and deputy director of the Administrative Department of Disaster Risk Management (Dagrd), emphasized the importance of regular assessments of horizontal properties, regardless of legal requirements. He recommended that residents know the evacuation plans, identify escape routes, keep a first‑aid kit, include pets in the plan, and store essential documents both in physical and digital formats.

Situations experienced after the tremor

During the quake, thousands of people stayed outside residential areas for more than two hours. In one of the Belén condominiums, the absence of a support brigade became even more apparent when the elderly lady, already in pain, received no immediate assistance.

With information from El Colombiano.