Pereira Faces Allegations of Hoarding After Earthquake

On August 20, 2026, Pereira continues to face a complex response and recovery phase following the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the country. While debris removal operations and assessments of affected structures are underway, allegations of alleged aid hoarding and warnings about fake victims have emerged.

Casualties and Property Damage Toll

According to the latest report released on August 20, 2026, the city records 100 fatalities, over 157 missing persons, and 253 injured. Regarding material damage, the report details 66 completely destroyed properties, impacts on more than 100 educational institutions, and the projected need to demolish over 200 buildings that were severely damaged. Pereira Ombudsman Leonardo Fabio Reales Chacón warned that the scale of the emergency has overwhelmed the municipality's response capacity and called for a stronger presence from the National Government, pointing out that institutions are hardly prepared for situations of this magnitude.

Projection of Affected Population and Registration Centers

The official points out that it is tentatively projected that nearly 40,000 people or families were affected by the tremor, estimated based on the severe damage in the city center, the university commune, and densely populated areas such as Providencia and Cuba. The census is only just beginning and does not yet have a consolidated figure. Registration is concentrated in El Lago Park and Olaya Herrera Park.

Allegations of Aid Restriction at Olaya Herrera Park

At Olaya Herrera Park, which serves as a shelter and gathers around 1,500 people, allegations have arisen that some support is being restricted. Reports indicate divisions among groups working in aid delivery, with young people taking control of certain spaces and rejecting coordination proposals. The source reported that proposals for joint work with support networks using borrowed tents, Mayor's Office staff with food supplies, and even members of the Army offering collaboration were rejected or turned away from the site.

Alerts Regarding Alleged Impersonation and Control Measures

Regarding the risk of impersonation and individuals attempting to register as victims without being so, Leonardo Fabio Reales clarified that, to date, no official actual cases of line-jumpers are known, as these are solely warnings and messages spread on social media and news outlets, although the alarm was raised by the refugees themselves. To ensure rigor, the municipal administration and Public Ministry bodies are coordinating census efforts, relying on community leaders.

Decongestion and New Assistance Spaces

To decongest Olaya Herrera Park and improve care conditions, part of the population began to be transferred on August 20, 2026, to conduct a self-census at the Coliseo Menor. The Ombudsman's Office clarified that the self-census is an initial identification mechanism that must later be verified by the authorities. Other locations authorized to assist victims include the Villa Olímpica, the Coliseo Mayor, El Oso Park, and El Vergel Park, where dozens of families are already receiving assistance.

With information from El Colombiano.