Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Priest Nelson Giraldo Mejia and a parishioner pray during a procession with the Virgen de la Pobreza, patroness of Pereira, in front of the rubble of a building after the earthquake, in Pereira on August 14, 2026. The chances of finding earthquake survivors in Colombia dropped significantly on August 14, four days after the 7.4-magnitude tremor struck, though rescue efforts plowed ahead as hundreds remained missing. (Photo by Luis ACOSTA / AFP)

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787015056578Screen Shot 2026-08-18 at 9.04.02 AM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Priest Nelson Giraldo Mejia and a parishioner pray during a procession with the Virgen de la Pobreza, patroness of Pereira, in front of the rubble of a building after the earthquake, in Pereira on August 14, 2026. The chances of finding earthquake survivors in Colombia dropped significantly on August 14, four days after the 7.4-magnitude tremor struck, though rescue efforts plowed ahead as hundreds remained missing<em>. Photo by Luis Acosta/AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>BOGOTÁ, Colombia — Colombia&#x27;s new housing minister has come under fire after it emerged that he took his family on a Caribbean holiday while the country was reeling from a devastating earthquake that left thousands homeless.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/8/15/colombia-hopes-for-miracles-as-search-for-quake-victims-goes-on-0913">Colombia hopes for miracles as search for quake victims goes on</a></div><p>The August 10 earthquake, which killed nearly 300 people in western Colombia, struck just three days after right-wing President Abelardo de la Espriella took office.</p><p>The 7.4-magnitude tremor was the most powerful in Colombia in nearly half a century.</p><p>Over the weekend, photos and videos emerged of Housing Minister Jaime Andres Beltran relaxing on a beach in the Caribbean city of Santa Marta.</p><p>The left-wing opposition said it would bring a motion of no confidence in the minister for taking leave at such a critical time.</p><p>Nearly 27,000 homes were destroyed in the quake and many survivors are now sleeping in the open, on mattresses or makeshift beds.</p><p>The minister on Monday attempted to swat away the criticism of his trip, writing on X that he was &quot;not on holiday&quot; but merely &quot;sharing a few hours with my wife and children, whom I had not seen for days&quot; and had &quot;immediately&quot; afterwards resumed work on post-quake reconstruction.</p><p>A week after the disaster, hopes of finding any survivors under the rubble have dwindled.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;HISTORICAL DEBT&#x27; </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The focus has shifted to the emerging humanitarian crisis on the streets of Cali, Pereira and other quake-hit areas, which have been transformed into open-air refugee camps.</p><p>On Monday pop superstar Shakira, who hails from Colombia, arrived in the department of Choco, which was the epicenter of the quake.</p><p>Accompanied by American billionaire Howard Buffett, she visited some of the 40 schools destroyed in the disaster, walking past broken desks and windows, and collapsed walls.</p><p>The &quot;Whenever, Wherever&quot; singer vowed to rebuild 10 schools, and said she has raised an initial contribution of $1 million to make it happen.</p><p>&quot;There is a historical debt owed to Choco,&quot; Shakira said. &quot;It has been left to fend for itself and it has been very difficult to make progress here, but we know it&#x27;s possible.&quot;</p><p>The quake has been a baptism of fire for political newcomer De la Espriella.</p><p>Last week, he toured the region and announced rent subsidies for families who lost their homes.</p><p>He also called on his ally, US President Donald Trump, to suspend tariffs on Colombian goods to boost the economy.</p><p>But he drew criticism on Sunday for handing out footballs marked &quot;Sign for the homeland,&quot; his campaign slogan, from his armored vehicle on a visit to an area near the quake&#x27;s epicenter.</p><p>His detractors accused the right-wing firebrand of using the disaster to promote his political brand and of trivializing the survivors&#x27; needs.</p><p>His supporters defended the gesture as bringing a little joy to quake victims.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZotZmTUtoNs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1VqfPfdWwkg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Colombia's new housing minister has come under fire after it emerged that he took his family on a Caribbean holiday while the country was reeling from a devastating earthquake that left thousands homeless.</p>

Colombia's new housing minister has come under fire after it emerged that he took his family on a Caribbean holiday while the country was reeling from a devastating earthquake that left thousands homeless.

Colombian minister under fire over beach holiday post-quake

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Colombian minister under fire over beach holiday post-quake

Agence France-Presse

Published August 18, 2026 09:05 AM PHT

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Bogotá

Colombia

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Agence France-Presse

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