On Aug. 10, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, tearing buildings and communities apart. More than 48 hours after the tragic event, the Colombian government has confirmed at least 265 people have died and nearly 500 remain missing, although civilian-run databases put that number much higher, at more than 4,100.
The earthquake did not only affect those in cities such as Cali, Pereira and Manizales, but also reached the Colombian diaspora around the globe. Although they were not physically there, many Colombians have suffered the emotional toll of the earthquake from afar.
Such was the case of Víctor Andrés Quintero, a Colombian from Cali who has lived in Miami for the last seven years. In a heartful interview with El País, Quintero recounted that he learned about the earthquake through a WhatsApp group, where relatives living in Spain had shared images. In one of the videos, several people could be seen running out of a clinic in Cali as it was collapsing. It took Quintero only a few seconds to recognize his aunt Myriam, who was inside the clinic when the earthquake struck.
"I knew right away it was her. She was at the doctor at the time," Quintero said of his aunt Myriam, who had taken care of him since he was 9 years old following his mother's death. "You can see things falling, and they fall on her and another woman who was helping her get out."
He told the outlet he tried to contact other family members in Cali, but his calls would not go through because there was no signal. Hours later, he was able to reach a cousin who was visiting Cali, who told Quintero she had been able to visit the clinic and confirmed that his aunt had died in the collapse.
"Just hearing her crying and telling me that, and that was it. I haven't been able to talk to anyone else," Quintero told El País.
Quintero was not the only Colombian filled with anguish thousands of miles from his homeland. More than 400,000 Colombians live in Florida, particularly in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Cristhian Mancera, a councilman and Colombian community leader in Miami-Dade, told El País that on Aug. 10, his phone did not stop ringing with calls and messages from people worried about their relatives.
Despite being thousands of miles away and amid the shock, Florida's large Colombian diaspora has not stood by idly. According to Mancera, many people also reached out to ask what kind of help was needed.
According to his statements, groups of citizens have been collecting food, water, medicine, diapers and other basic necessities. He said they are in contact with organizations in Colombia to distribute the donations and are waiting to determine which products are most needed and urgent in the affected area.
Nonetheless, people like Quintero are caught between a rock and a hard place. Quintero told El País that his immigration status prevents him from traveling back to Colombia because, as an undocumented immigrant, he risks being unable to return.
He said he came to Miami to work and send remittances to help his family, particularly his aunt Myriam, who died in the earthquake Aug. 10.
"I sent everything to her. She is the reason I am here," Quintero said. "My head is spinning. I don't even know what to do. The person I was helping is no longer here."
