A big earthquake reveals two very different Colombias

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on August 10th, causing extensive damage across the country. The epicentre was in the western state of Chocó, where a four-storey building collapsed in Quibdó, the city's only hospital. The aftershocks further damaged buildings, resulting in at least 265 deaths nationwide. President Abelardo de la Espriella, sworn in just three days before the tremors, quickly assumed control of the situation, differing from Venezuela's slower response to a similar quake in June.

However, the earthquake exposed deep-rooted challenges in Colombia, notably the stark contrast between the impoverished western state of Chocó and the richer neighbouring region of Valle del Cauca. Chocó, where Quibdó is located, is the poorest state in Colombia, with 75% of its population being Afro-Colombian or indigenous. The local hospital in Quibdó is the sole provider of even basic surgeries, and the community suffers from pervasive banditry, with extortion being a common issue.

Despite rescue teams arriving on the morning of the 11th, the 72-hour window for saving lives had elapsed, resulting in a mixed outcome – two out of three people pulled from the rubble died.

In stark contrast, the richer region of Valle del Cauca, where the capital Cali is located, has seen 88 people rescued, with expert teams flown in from Bogotá. The success in this area is attributed to the availability of overland routes for delivering aid to hard-hit cities like Manizales and Pereira, where over half of the deaths have been recorded.

President de la Espriella has acknowledged the disparities and is dispatching his cabinet to the worst-affected areas, promising temporary housing aid for victims. Yet, the urgency of their needs remains unmet, as evidenced by Rosa Mercedes, whose apartment in Quibdó has been reduced to rubble, with no access to water, energy, or basic necessities.

The government's response to the earthquake has also been hampered by financial and logistical challenges. De la Espriella has declared an economic emergency to bypass Congress and spend the national budget on recovery efforts, but the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, his key agency for natural-disaster response, is cash-strapped after being robbed by corrupt officials.

This has left the government struggling to provide the necessary resources and capabilities, forcing them to rely on local governments for assistance. In wealthier regions like Valle del Cauca, this approach has proven effective. However, in Quibdó, residents like Rosa Mercedes continue to wait, highlighting the stark contrast between the two very different Colombias exposed by the earthquake.