What Earthquake Insurance Covers in Colombia

What have insurers reported so far?

On October 6, El Tiempo reported 97,251 earthquake-related claims and said the estimated cost of handling them had risen 10.5% in one week ¹. The same-day report from El País put the amount associated with insured claims at 6.3 trillion pesos, while noting that the final figure for losses covered by policies was not available ³.

These are evolving claims estimates, not a settled account of all damage or a measure of how much insurers have already paid. The reports do not give a final total for earthquake losses across the country.

How much of the damage may be insured?

Swiss Re’s president for reinsurance in Latin America and the Caribbean told El País that Colombia’s share of losses covered by insurance could be below 42%, the worldwide coverage figure the outlet cited for the first half of 2026 ³. This is an estimate, not a final calculation for the earthquake.

The sources provided do not set out which damage is covered under particular home, business or shared-building policies. Coverage depends on the applicable policy, and the reports do not provide enough detail to explain its terms.

Where can readers follow the official information?

For the latest reported claims figures, consult the October 6 El Tiempo report ¹. For Swiss Re’s assessment and the current uncertainty about the insured share, see El País’s interview with Swiss Re’s regional president ³. These are news reports; the supplied sources do not include a government or regulator notice setting out final national losses or policy rules.