Cali Will Need US$3.2B and Three Years to Rebuild After Earthquake

Cali city officials have estimated that it will require US$3.2 billion and approximately three years to rebuild after the devastating earthquake that struck the city on August 10. The mayor's office provided these initial figures, which reflect the immense scale of the challenges faced by Cali, one of the regions hit hardest by the natural disaster.

The reconstruction process will encompass the recovery of residential homes, public buildings, schools, fire stations, police facilities, and public utility networks. Mayor Alejandro Eder has emphasized that the city lacks the financial resources to cover such a vast expense independently and will require support from multiple sources, including the national government and international organizations.

While the initial estimates suggest a time frame of between two and four years for the reconstruction, the city administration is currently planning a three-year timeline. This schedule is contingent upon a thorough assessment of the damage and the timely arrival of the necessary funding. One of the primary challenges will involve inspecting nearly 400 buildings that were reportedly affected by the quake.

Structural evaluations will determine which structures can be repaired, which require substantial renovations, and which pose immediate risks to their inhabitants. Beyond rebuilding destroyed structures, the city must also restore essential infrastructure to ensure the proper functioning of public services and provide critical care to the affected population.

Although the financial calculations are still underway, Cali is currently still in the emergency phase. The mayor has estimated that the humanitarian crisis could persist for about three months, with authorities focusing on providing assistance to victims, supporting families who lost their homes, and conducting assessments of affected buildings.

The transition from the emergency phase to the reconstruction phase is expected to be gradual. Before initiating major reconstruction projects, it will be crucial to accurately determine the extent of the damage and identify which buildings can be safely used again. Cali has suffered 110 fatalities, with 115 people officially reported as missing and 89 buildings destroyed in the August 10 earthquake.

To address these needs, the city government has proposed allocating 1 trillion pesos (approximately US$320 million) from funds remaining in the 'Invest to Grow' program. Additionally, Eder is seeking access to an additional 2 trillion pesos (approximately US$640 million) from the national government, representing funds previously paid by Cali over the past 15 years.

This combined amount would support projects related to public utilities and essential infrastructure, including schools, fire stations, and police facilities. Furthermore, the city is requesting an extra 350 billion pesos (approximately US$113 million) from the national government for reconstruction efforts. While these resources would bring the total funding closer to the estimated 10 trillion pesos needed, they still fall short of the required amount.

In response to the financial shortfall, Eder has recommended establishing a special fund for Cali's recovery, drawing inspiration from a similar mechanism used following the 1999 earthquake in Colombia's Coffee Region. This special fund would facilitate the pooling of resources from the national government, local administration, international organizations, and other contributors.

The primary objective will be to secure the necessary funding and execute the reconstruction work within a timeframe that could extend up to three years. In addition to restoring destroyed areas and repairing damaged structures, the reconstruction efforts will aim to enhance infrastructure safety to mitigate the impact of future earthquakes.

Despite the difficulties, the city remains resilient, with Mayor Eder expressing optimism and unity as Cali moves forward together.