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Alejandro Eder leads interreligious prayer and candle lighting ceremony to honor earthquake victims in Cali

Cali authorities and religious leaders gathered for an interreligious prayer and a symbolic candle-lighting ceremony to honor victims of the August 10 earthquake. The event, held at the Parroquia Santuario San Juan Pablo II, served as a collective mourning period for the community, focusing on spiritual recovery and solidarity. Mayor Alejandro Eder and Governor Dilian Francisca Toro attended the ceremony, which was coordinated by the Cali Archdiocese and the provincial government to address both human assistance and infrastructure reconstruction. Priest Óscar de la Vega noted that at least 35 parishes were affected by the seismic event, including iconic buildings like the San Pedro Apostle Cathedral. While immediate rescue efforts have concluded, the focus has shifted to debris removal and the reconstruction of private homes and sacred spaces. The administration announced subsidies for renting and rebuilding houses for those affected, with total losses estimated at over $9.5 billion. The ceremony serves as a first step in the emotional and physical reconstruction of the city, encouraging residents to maintain unity and serenity during the long recovery process.

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