Colombia’s Earthquake Aftermath: Rising Concerns

Four days after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, the situation has rapidly deteriorated. Many victims are trapped beneath rubble, with their bodies decomposing, which raises serious concerns about public health.

Compounding the crisis are the high temperatures, sitting around 90°F, alongside the widespread destruction of plumbing and water systems. This creates a scenario where debris remains moist, fostering the growth of harmful pathogens. Search and rescue teams continue their efforts, but the chances of survival are dwindling. I think it was expected that it would take roughly 72 hours for search operations to yield substantial results. Some areas, like Cali, announced on Friday that they would extend their search efforts for an additional 48 hours, while also trying to assist those who have been found and redirecting resources to locate and identify the missing.

On Monday, the earthquake hit the Chocó province, causing extensive damage by collapsing entire blocks of buildings and rendering many others unsafe for use as shelters. As of Friday, the government reported 281 fatalities, over 3,970 injuries, and 379 people unaccounted for. Typically, after an earthquake, the death toll rises slowly because recovering bodies from the debris is a labor-intensive process. Efforts in Chocó and nearby areas have been hindered by ongoing aftershocks. Colombian Caracol News indicated that since Monday, they have recorded 184 aftershocks, with 15 of these surpassing a magnitude of 3.0.

The newspaper El Tiempo reported on Thursday that authorities are facing “hygiene challenges” as they try to prevent disease outbreaks among survivors. Many individuals have lost their homes, are lacking basic hygiene supplies, and are struggling to find food. In Pereira, one of the hardest-hit cities, the newspaper noted a troubling “smell of decay” pervasive in the area.

Epidemiologist Ariel Emilio Cortés warned about potential environmental contamination and the risk of bacteria spreading. He mentioned that infectious diseases, particularly of the bacterial kind, pose a significant risk and need to be managed appropriately, especially given the precarious living conditions.

The same report highlighted the struggles public health experts in Pereira face with sterilizing medical equipment for treating survivors and identifying victims, partly due to a layer of dust from collapsed buildings complicating disinfection efforts.

In Cali, El Tiempo conveyed that mortuary procedures have been swift, primarily because most victims’ causes of death are apparent. However, many victims, particularly children separated from family members during the disaster, pose identification challenges, especially since the city’s genetic testing lab is not currently operational.

Families must seek out funeral homes to process their deceased relatives. With about 150 funeral homes in Cali, they are all overwhelmed, trying to accommodate a growing number of clients amid the chaos.

Germán Escobar, the Health Secretary in Cali, raised alarms about the potential disease outbreaks that could occur as families cope with the disposal of their loved ones. He noted that as temperatures rise and plumbing access remains limited, bodies decompose, increasing the risk of public health crises.

He remarked, “Due to the passage of time and high temperatures, biological material has built up and can easily be recognized in the environment.” Escobar conveyed some hope that the government is responding adequately to mitigate a potential public health disaster. However, he urged community members to adhere to basic hygiene practices and suggested that vulnerable populations get vaccinated as recovery efforts ramp up.

Such an outbreak would severely impact the already strained public health system in western Colombia. In Quibdó, the Chocó province’s capital and earthquake epicenter, Bishop Winston Mosquera indicated that local hospitals are nearing full capacity and short on staff.

He acknowledged, “We know we need more people, especially medical workers. Our hospitals lack the necessary space.” The region’s healthcare system was already fragile before the disaster, and the earthquake made matters worse, leading to some patients being transferred to hospitals in Medellín, with some not surviving the journey.

The federal government, now under President Abelardo de la Espriela, is working to deploy resources and coordinate international assistance. President de la Espriela is expected to visit the affected areas, including Quibdó, Cali, and Pereira, on Friday.