Jaime Andres Beltran, Colombia's new housing minister, is facing a no-confidence motion after photos showed him with family in Santa Marta days after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake on August 10 killed nearly 300 people and destroyed nearly 27,000 homes. Beltran says he only spent a few hours with relatives and immediately returned to reconstruction work. Relief efforts are focused on humanitarian needs in cities including Cali, Pereira and Chocó, where Shakira has pledged $1 million and to rebuild 10 schools. The disaster has intensified scrutiny of President Abelardo de la Espriella's early response and political gestures around the relief effort.
Colombian Housing Minister Faces Backlash After Caribbean Family Break During Devastating Quake
Colombian singer Shakira visited damaged areas after a 7.4 earthquake in Colombia (STRINGER)
Colombia's newly appointed housing minister, Jaime Andres Beltran, has come under intense criticism after photos surfaced showing him with his family on a beach in Santa Marta just days after a powerful earthquake devastated western Colombia.
The 7.4-magnitude quake on August 10 killed nearly 300 people and destroyed almost 27,000 homes, leaving many survivors sleeping outdoors on mattresses or makeshift beds. The disaster struck three days after President Abelardo de la Espriella took office, intensifying scrutiny of the new administration's early response.
Political Fallout
The left-wing opposition announced plans to file a motion of no confidence against Beltran, arguing that his absence at a critical moment demonstrates poor judgement and a lack of solidarity with affected communities. Supporters say the minister briefly reunited with family members he had not seen for days and then immediately returned to work on reconstruction efforts.
Beltran wrote on X: "I was not on holiday. I was sharing a few hours with my wife and children, whom I had not seen for days," adding that he "immediately" resumed post-quake reconstruction duties.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
With hopes of finding survivors under the rubble fading a week after the disaster, attention has shifted to urgent humanitarian needs across quake-hit cities such as Cali, Pereira and the department of Chocó. Many affected areas have become makeshift open-air camps where displaced families lack shelter, sanitation and basic services.
International and national figures have stepped in to help. Colombian pop star Shakira, who is from the affected region, visited Chocó accompanied by U.S. philanthropist Howard Buffett. She pledged to rebuild 10 destroyed schools and said she had raised an initial $1 million toward that effort, calling attention to what she described as a "historical debt" owed to Chocó for long-neglected infrastructure and services.
Government Actions And Controversy
President De la Espriella toured affected areas and announced rent subsidies for families who lost their homes. However, he also drew criticism after distributing footballs stamped with his campaign slogan, "Sign for the homeland," from an armored vehicle near the quake's epicenter. Critics called the gesture tone-deaf and opportunistic, while supporters argued it was meant to bring small moments of joy to children traumatized by the disaster.
The earthquake has tested Colombia's new leadership and intensified debate over how best to prioritize emergency aid, reconstruction and political responsibility in the weeks ahead.
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