Luis Carlos Villegas reveals how Forec operated after the 1999 earthquake and what Colombia can learn to face new emergencies

On January 25, 1999, a major earthquake struck the Eje Cafetero region of Colombia, leading to the creation of the Fondo para la Reconstrucción (Forec) to manage the subsequent recovery efforts. Luis Carlos Villegas recently reflected on the operational history of this fund, highlighting lessons learned that remain relevant for Colombia’s current emergency management strategies nearly three decades later.

During the immediate aftermath of the disaster, rescue operations faced significant challenges at sites such as the Hotel Dibeni in Pereira. Efforts to locate survivors were complicated by the use of heavy machinery to clear debris, a process that occurred despite reports of potential signs of life from trapped individuals, including Mexican nationals. As recovery work progressed, the reliance on heavy equipment contributed to the diminishing hope of finding survivors in the affected urban areas.