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PoliticalColombia·Unpinned18 Aug 2026 · 9d ago

Colombian housing minister criticized for holiday during earthquake crisis

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Housing Minister Jaime Andres Beltran faced criticism after photos surfaced showing him on a Caribbean holiday in Santa Marta while Colombia dealt with the aftermath of a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck on August 10. The disaster, which occurred three days after the inauguration of President Abelardo de la Espriella, killed nearly 300 people and destroyed approximately 27,000 homes. The left-wing opposition responded by announcing a motion of no confidence against the minister, citing his absence during a crisis that left many survivors sleeping in the open.

Consequences

The minister faces a formal motion of no confidence from the political opposition in response to his actions. This development potentially threatens his position within the newly formed administration during a period of national reconstruction.

Sources

SCMP
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