Hospitals in Cali, Colombia, have stabilised after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake damaged four major hospitals and six clinics, but a red alert remains in place. Medical workers are treating patients in expansion zones, unused operating rooms, recovery areas and temporary field clinics.
The earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 273 people and injuring at least 3,800 nationwide. The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said 377 people were still missing as the crucial three-day rescue window passed.
Damage left much of Cali’s medical capacity unusable
At the University Hospital of the Valle Evaristo Garcia, about half of the facility was damaged, according to general practitioner Carlos Naranjo. The rear of the hospital partially collapsed, while fissured walls and collapsed ceilings made parts of the building unsafe. Staff could treat only patients requiring immediate resuscitation and had to turn away most others.
Cali, the capital of Valle del Cauca province, was among the worst-affected areas. At least 96 people died in the city, 1,224 were injured and 111 were officially missing. Authorities reported about 45 collapsed buildings and 832 damaged buildings. Public hospitals reached full capacity on Monday, prompting the city to declare a hospital red alert.
Related coverage: Colombia begins national mourning as earthquake rescue enters third day.
Expansion zones helped absorb the patient surge
Cali Public Health Secretary German Escobar said officials expanded capacity within and around less-affected health institutions. The measures included reopening operating rooms that had not been in use and using recovery areas that had been partly or fully closed before the earthquake.
Clinica Nuestra, a private hospital, moved patients after a partial collapse and established a temporary field clinic. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the hospital system had stabilised as patients were discharged and new admissions declined, although the red alert remained active.
Rescue response continues while hospitals remain under strain
Officials attributed the stabilisation to coordination among government agencies, relief organisations and volunteers. Responders used the pre-established Incident Command System to coordinate government and civil-society groups, while volunteers supported rescue work and medical services at collapse sites.
More context: Colombia earthquake kills at least 20 as buildings collapse.
The health system remained under pressure, particularly for people with chronic illnesses who were struggling to obtain medication. Escobar said full stabilisation was expected unless another major mass event overwhelmed emergency and inpatient services. Rescue workers said the emergency was not over while people remained missing and appealed for continued assistance.
Also read: Search for survivors continues after Colombia’s magnitude 7.4 quake.
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