Colombias Earthquake Sparks Criticism from Buenaventura Residents Over State Response

Residents in Buenaventura, Colombia’s port city, report inadequate government response to the recent earthquake. Lorena Hipis, a resident, described her home’s damage and loss of four lives during the 7.4-magnitude quake on Monday.

The earthquake caused widespread destruction, with half of Hipis’ home and neighboring buildings collapsing. The municipality, state, and government have not visited the area, according to Hipis. She is seeking assistance to clear debris from her damaged roof, citing an urgent situation.

Buenaventura’s residents fear a pattern of state neglect will affect resource distribution after the earthquake. An estimated 287 people were killed nationwide, with 19 in Buenaventura. The city has seen 540 homes collapse and 3,416 sustained damage, resulting in 330 injuries.

The Luis Ablanque de la Plata District Hospital has been affected, with several wards out of operation following the earthquake. Injured residents wait under tents outside for treatment at the hospital’s car park. Bryan Reyes, a shipyard worker, described the response as “total abandonment” and attributed it to chronic under-investment in the city.

Buenaventura has historically lagged behind other urban hubs like Cali in socioeconomic development. According to government estimates from 2024, 15.4 percent of the population lives in multidimensional poverty, a rate more than double that of Cali. The city’s Afro-Colombian population, which makes up approximately 88.5 percent of residents, has also faced historical marginalization.

The civic monitoring group Buenaventura Como Vamos (BCV) reported in 2025 that 72 percent of residents struggled to find work and 70 percent experienced food insecurity. The city’s infrastructure and public services have been criticized for being inadequate, with limited resources and chronic under-investment.

Source: Al Jazeera