COLOMBIA · DISASTER
Key Facts
- Power Index Colombia ranks 6th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 51.9 points (October 2026 edition).
- What is happening Cali began paying quake rent aid on 10 September, starting with 10,000 families out of 52,809 censused.
- Why it matters The quake killed 335 people nationwide and left nearly 487,000 registered victims, so aid pace affects many households.
- The numbers Rent aid is COP 1,050,000 (about US$332) a month for three months, extendable by three more.
- Who is who UNGRD is the national disaster agency; Alejandro Eder is Cali’s mayor; Abelardo de la Espriella is president.
- What to watch Whether remaining censused families receive payments and whether a further three months is approved.
- What it means for you Americans who want to help should give through registered relief groups and check the State Department advisory before visiting.
Cali began paying earthquake rent aid to homeless families on 10 September, the mayor’s office says. The first group covered 10,000 families.
Cali began paying rent aid to quake victims on Thursday, 10 September, starting with 10,000 families, the mayor’s office says. The city had censused 52,809 families, and the rest were to be paid in stages from Monday, 14 September.
Cali is Colombia’s third-largest city, and the mayor’s office counted 154 dead there as of 9 September. Two and a half months after the quake, no official figure published so far shows how many families have since been paid.
What Happened in the Quake
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, 10 August, at 7:34 a.m. local time, the US Geological Survey says. Its epicentre lay 4 km south-south-west of San José del Palmar in Chocó, at a depth of 116 km.
The UNGRD, Colombia’s national disaster agency, counted 335 dead, 4,516 injured and 103 missing as of 9 October. It lists 36,478 homes destroyed and 206,931 damaged across 500 municipalities in 16 departments.
In Cali, the mayor’s office verified 24 buildings as fully fallen and 506 as partly fallen as of 9 September. It rated about 1,200 properties unfit or restricted for use, and demolition of 11 critical structures began that week.
How the Rent Aid Works
President Abelardo de la Espriella announced the aid on 28 August: COP 1,050,000 (about US$332) per family each month for three months. It can be extended by three more months and goes directly to families, without intermediaries.
The first three-month payment is COP 3,150,000 (US$996) per family. Families must be on the national victims’ census and meet its criteria.
By 9 September, Cali had censused 52,809 families, and 45,139 households were formally reported as victims. A census count is not a count of eligible families, so the gap to 10,000 does not measure unpaid entitlements.
How the Government Responded
The Housing Ministry set aside COP 110 billion (about US$34.8 million) for 1,462 urban and 741 rural home improvements. A material bank and a team of professionals were also set up in Valle del Cauca for repairs to habitable homes.
Cali’s mayor called recovery a marathon lasting at least three years. The city says it will rebuild jointly with the national government, private firms and residents.
Why It Matters
Rent aid is the main lifeline for families who lost their homes, so the pace of payments matters directly. Colombia is a close US security and trade partner, and slow rebuilding strains its budget and politics.
What It Means for You
Americans who want to help should give through registered relief groups, not social-media appeals. Check the US State Department’s Colombia advisory before booking a trip to Cali.
Building inspections and demolitions were still under way in Cali in September. Visitors should follow local authorities’ guidance.
Related Rio Times reports include A Month After Colombia’s Earthquake and Choco Reconstruction Package Is Smaller Than It Sounds. More is on the Colombia hub and in Colombian Firms Send Credit, Not Cash.
What Is Not Known
No official figure published so far says how many Cali families have received each payment since 10 September. Officials have not said whether a further three months will be approved.
Local accounts of late and unequal payments could not be verified independently, so this report rests on official data. National and city damage counts differ and have been revised several times.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Cali earthquake happen and how strong was it?
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck on Monday, 10 August 2026, at 7:34 a.m. local time. Its epicentre was near San José del Palmar in Chocó, at a depth of 116 km.
How many people died in the earthquake?
The national disaster agency counted 335 dead nationwide as of 9 October. Cali’s mayor’s office counted 154 deaths in the city as of 9 September.
How much is the rent aid and when did it start in Cali?
Registered families get COP 1,050,000 (about US$332) a month for three months. Cali began paying a first group of 10,000 families on 10 September.
Who qualifies for the rent aid?
Families must be on the national victims’ census and meet its criteria. The Housing Ministry separately funds home improvements and material kits.
Sources: US Geological Survey, event page us6000tjl2 (M7.4, 10 August 2026); UNGRD national disaster agency, situation report cut-off 9 October 2026, 6:30 a.m.; Alcaldía de Cali, bulletin of 28 August 2026 on rent aid and rebuilding; Alcaldía de Cali, one-month balance of 10 September 2026 (data cut-off 9 September). Exchange rate US$1 = COP 3,164 (open.er-api.com, 30 October 2026, accessed 30 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
Living in or visiting Cali? See this month's events and our Cali city guide with rents, safety and upcoming concerts.