The opposition said it would bring a motion of no confidence in Jaime Andres Beltran for taking leave at such a critical time
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenAgence France-PressePublished: 9:17am, 18 Aug 2026Colombia’s new housing minister has come under fire after it emerged that he took his family on a Caribbean holiday while the country was reeling from a devastating earthquake that left thousands homeless.
The August 10 earthquake, which killed nearly 300 people in western Colombia, struck just three days after right-wing President Abelardo de la Espriella took office.
The 7.4-magnitude tremor was the most powerful in Colombia in nearly half a century.
Over the weekend, photos and videos emerged of Housing Minister Jaime Andres Beltran relaxing on a beach in the Caribbean city of Santa Marta.
The left-wing opposition said it would bring a motion of no confidence in the minister for taking leave at such a critical time.
Nearly 27,000 homes were destroyed in the quake and many survivors are now sleeping in the open, on mattresses or makeshift beds.
