Due to biological hazards, authorities urge citizen volunteers not to approach collapsed-structure sites

• Rescue agencies continue search and rescue operations in the Ciudad Capri, Cuarto de Legua, Los Cámbulos neighborhoods and at the HUV.
   
• Public security forces are restricting access to these areas so that rescue operations can proceed safely and in an organized manner.
   
• “We are strengthening access-control measures so that rescuers can carry out their work in a coordinated manner. Additionally, we are now facing biological hazards,” said Secretary Javier Garcés.

Santiago de Cali, August 17, 2026

The District Administration of Santiago de Cali is urging residents, especially those serving as volunteers at sites where structures collapsed following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that occurred last Monday (August 10, 2026), to follow the recommendations of rescue agencies and refrain from going to these areas due to the presence of biological hazards and in order to facilitate the work of rescuers.

The call was made by the District Secretary of Security and Justice, Javier Garcés Mosquera, during a press conference held this public holiday Monday (August 17, 2026). He stated that, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police and the National Army, access to these areas has been restricted so that search and rescue operations can be carried out safely and in an organized manner.

“Given the evolution of the operations, we are strengthening access-control measures so that rescuers can carry out their work in a coordinated manner. Additionally, we are now facing biological hazards, and many volunteers do not have the biosafety and protective measures required to be in these areas. We ask citizens to follow the recommendations that will initially be issued by the rescue agencies, as well as by the public security forces deployed at each of these sites,” the Secretary explained.

According to information provided by the authorities through the Unified Command Post, search and rescue operations continue in Cali at four locations where structural collapses occurred: Ciudad Capri, Cuarto de Legua and Los Cámbulos neighborhoods, and the Hospital Universitario del Valle.

“It is important that people do not enter areas where rescue operations are not being carried out, because if there are no support networks present and they suffer any type of accident or emergency, there will be no one available to assist them. Together with the Metropolitan Police, we have established security measures in areas that are no longer the subject of these operations,” Garcés emphasized.

Secretary of Security and Justice to expedite procedures for affected residents

To support citizens whose homes were affected by the earthquake, the Secretary of Security and Justice stated that officials from the department will visit the different districts and rural areas to provide a swift response to requests related to condominium and common-property regulations and similar procedures.

“We are organizing a response to address procedures that fall directly within the responsibilities of our department, such as those related to condominium and common-property matters. Many of the collapsed buildings were residential complexes where victims lived, and in order to file claims, they will need certain documents that the Secretary’s Office can help them obtain, such as legal representation documents. We will arrange for teams from the department to go to the collapse sites where we are conducting the census,” he said.

Additionally, through the Justice Houses and the Coexistence and Peace Inspection Offices, the department will establish service points in priority areas to bring services from other institutions closer to residents, including the National Civil Registry.

Communications – District Secretariat of Security and Justice

Communications Team

Office of the Mayor of Cali