President De la Espriella Outlines Earthquake Recovery Amid Controversy Over Housing Minister

President Abelardo de la Espriella delivered his first presidential address on Monday to report on the aftermath of a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck on August 10. The president stated that the disaster affected 450 municipalities across 15 departments, resulting in 289 deaths, 4,187 injuries, and 143 missing persons. According to the head of state, more than 120,000 families were affected, with over 26,000 homes destroyed and 12,000 damaged. The most severe impacts were reported in Valle del Cauca and Risaralda. Economic damages are estimated at approximately 30 trillion COP, with the Chocó department identified as the most affected in humanitarian terms. The president announced a plan to rebuild Chocó and called on construction companies and the financial sector to assist in the recovery efforts. Internationally, Colombia has received aid from 138 foreign rescuers from the United States, Ecuador, and Israel. The president also noted a diplomatic shift by recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights to strengthen this alliance.

Simultaneously, the government is facing a political crisis involving Housing Minister Jaime Andrés Beltrán. Images circulated on social media showing the minister on a beach in Santa Marta during the emergency. Center left sources frame this as a sign of indolence and a failure of leadership, noting that the president also distributed soccer balls with political propaganda to victims in Buenaventura. Center right sources frame the event as a personal matter, highlighting the minister's need to be a present father and husband. Minister Beltrán defended his actions by stating he visited his family for a short time and emphasized that his team is working on a three phase reconstruction plan. First Lady Ana Lucía Pineda publicly supported the minister, noting that his wife is leading a collection point for aid in Bucaramanga. Despite calls for a motion of censure from various political factions, President De la Espriella has kept Beltrán in his position to lead the reconstruction efforts. In separate news, the president ordered the lifting of a blockade on the Barranquilla to Santa Marta road after community protests over power outages.