After Colombia’s strongest quake in decades, survivors face the long road back

Pereira, August 16 - A young boy named Sebastian, nine years old, creates a picture of his demolished family home after the strong earthquake that struck western Colombia this week. He adds a rainbow, sun, and tree to signify hope amidst the devastation. At a shelter in Pereira, displaced children paint alongside him, seeking solace and camaraderie.

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the city on Monday killed at least 281 people and injured thousands. Sebastian's father, Alexander Fernandez, lost his carwash workplace in the quake. The 27-year-old survived by taking cover under a bed, now left with nothing. Day after day, families continue to arrive at Pereira's makeshift camps, seeking shelter and sustenance.

Rescuers comb through the rubble of collapsed buildings, searching for survivors. The poorest neighborhoods of Pereira, home to homeless people, Venezuelan migrants, and street vendors, bore the brunt of the earthquake's impact. Jani Caicedo, a 45-year-old salesperson, arrived in Pereira after fleeing Buenaventura due to armed groups.

She lost her street selling business and now stands in need of starting anew. The Colombian government declared an "economic emergency" but has not yet provided estimates on the rebuilding costs. Daniel Flores, a bike workshop owner who recently achieved a lifelong dream, lost everything in the quake. His heart is broken, as all that remains are his motorbike, a red bicycle, and tools.

He mourns the loss of his dream and the future he had envisioned. In Pereira, a city of half a million inhabitants, every street tells the tale of the catastrophe. Debris is ubiquitous, and the power grid's unreliability leads to frequent blackouts. Daniel Flores, along with his German Shepherd Mike, and their three-month-old puppy Luna, hope to find refuge after the puppy went missing during the quake.