Cali Journalists Create Fund for Earthquake-Affected Colleagues

On August 18, 2026, as Cali was still recovering from the impact of the 7.4 magnitude earthquake on August 10, a new facet of the emergency began to emerge: the situation of journalists who, in addition to covering the tragedy, became victims of it. These professionals were the first to arrive at the affected sites, documenting the drama and accompanying rescue teams, families, and survivors.

The Situation of Affected Journalists

Many journalists now face their own emergency, having lost their homes due to total or partial collapse. Four colleagues, including Carlos Aponte, José Fernando Patiño, and Jorge Isaac Tobón, saw their homes completely collapse. Another five journalistic families suffered severe structural damage, rendering their homes uninhabitable. The remaining affected individuals had their homes partially damaged. Among the cases, radio operator Wilson Moreno's family home is slated for demolition. Furthermore, a pregnant journalist faces a highly complex situation, dealing with material loss and psychological distress.

Cali journalist Johana Quintero describes the scene as “a horror movie, devastating.” She states that “it’s one thing to see it on television and another to see with your own eyes the buildings you’ve seen your whole life.”

The Toll of the Tragedy in Cali

The earthquake resulted in 88 people rescued, 56 missing, and 139 deceased. Additionally, 1,569 people were injured, and 126 bodies were returned to their families. Infrastructure was also severely affected: the Cali mayor's office processed 5,545 complaints and verified 878 buildings. Of these, 24 completely collapsed, 127 partially collapsed, and 192 showed structural damage. 26,304 tons of debris were removed, 8,329 damage and needs assessments were conducted, 1,913 employees remained active during the emergency, and 147 animals were rescued.

Creation of the Journalists' Fund

Given this scenario, Johana Quintero promoted the creation of a Journalists' Fund to support affected colleagues. The idea arose after she learned about the cases of communicators who lost their homes or suffered significant damage, and now need to face expenses beyond the immediate emergency, such as finding a new place to live, transportation, replacing appliances, paying for services, or even having a vehicle to work.

For Quintero, the initiative has a personal component. In 2022, she herself lost her home and business in a structural fire and received support from colleagues and friends to rebuild what she had lost. She describes the current action as a way to reciprocate the love and help she received, as she understands what it means to lose loved ones and material possessions.

Reach and Support of the Fund

So far, the fund has identified 16 affected colleagues, between Cali and Tuluá. Johana Quintero assures that each case has been verified with evidence and direct contact with the journalists or close individuals, to ensure that resources reach those who truly need them and to avoid false claimants. The emergency affected traditional sectors of Cali such as Capri, Los Cámbulos, Limonar, and Tequendama, as well as the rural area in the Felidia district and the municipality of Tuluá, where communicator Óscar Darío Sánchez also reported severe damage to his home.

Among the communicators reported as affected are Carlos Aponte, José Fernando Patiño, Daniela Rojas, Jefferson Piña, Wilson Moreno, ‘Bambino’ Quintero, Jorge Isaac Tobón, Ángela Lezama, Erika Arce, Alfonso Tibocha, Óscar Darío Sánchez, Manuel Fernando Reina, and Piolo Millán.

Personal Losses Among Communicators

Journalists Carlos Andrés Aponte and José Fernando Patiño lost loved ones in the collapse of the Torres del Limonar residential complex, in the Capri sector. Carlos Aponte lost his parents, Carlos Arturo Aponte and Estela Marín, and his niece, 11-year-old Iliana Giraldo Aponte, who were on the third floor of the collapsed building. José Fernando Patiño lost his father, 78-year-old Darío Patiño Rivera, who was trapped in the rubble in the south of Cali. The communicator immediately traveled to the capital of Valle del Cauca to join the search, and hours later, rescue organizations confirmed the discovery of his father deceased.

The initiative seeks to mobilize the solidarity of the journalistic sector to support those who, from reporters, became victims. The fund is open to journalists who wish to help colleagues and volunteers who want to donate. Affected communicators can be contacted at 3155365347. Donations can be made via Nequi to the same number or using the key Bre-B 1107069276.

With information from El Colombiano.