Medellin Reports

**Manizales911** · 08-14-26 15:38

Originally Posted by FunLuvr [View Original Post]

I have to keep track of it because I visit Medellin almoat every other month. I have no idea why the USD is losing value against the COP. The dollar is up over the past year against the Euro and the Japanese yen, yet is down almost 25% during that time against the COP. That should make US products less expensive in Colombia, but the grocery stores haven't dropped their prices on US products that I have observed.

The peso was extremely devalued during the time when the exchange rate was in the 4000's. Now it is at a more realistic valuation. It is a combination of the Colombian peso getting stronger against the dollar and the dollar getting weaker against the Colombian peso. What the dollar does against other currencies has no bearing on what it is doing against the Colombian peso. In addition to the exchange rate going significantly down there is significant inflation here across the board. I'm fortunate enough to be able to swallow it but my expenses betwen those two issues is costing me about 40-50% more overall so it does sting but I'm not going anywhere.

**June Fly** · 08-14-26 13:26

Originally Posted by VoodooJones [View Original Post]

Has anyone been keeping track of the USD-to-COP exchange rate? I was in Medellin in May when it was 3,500 COP and now looking at 3,100.

A year ago it was near 4,000. Seems like such a crazy drop-off.

I've been going there since early 2022. It almost touched 5000 in November 2022. Spirit flights to Colombia ($200 RT) and Viva flights within Colombia ($70 RT) were dirt cheap. It was a golden period.

**Fun Luvr** · 08-14-26 01:24

Originally Posted by VoodooJones [View Original Post]

Has anyone been keeping track of the USD-to-COP exchange rate? I was in Medellin in May when it was 3,500 COP and now looking at 3,100.

A year ago it was near 4,000. Seems like such a crazy drop-off.

I have to keep track of it because I visit Medellin almoat every other month. I have no idea why the USD is losing value against the COP. The dollar is up over the past year against the Euro and the Japanese yen, yet is down almost 25% during that time against the COP. That should make US products less expensive in Colombia, but the grocery stores haven't dropped their prices on US products that I have observed.

**Combo** · 08-14-26 00:04

Originally Posted by VoodooJones [View Original Post]

Has anyone been keeping track of the USD-to-COP exchange rate? I was in Medellin in May when it was 3,500 COP and now looking at 3,100.

A year ago it was near 4,000. Seems like such a crazy drop-off.

May 15 it was 3,810. To 3,133 today. Almost 18% drop in three months is crazy. In contrast the USD has strengthened vs the Brazilian Real in that period. 5. 05 to 5. 20.

**Voodoo Jones** · 08-13-26 22:06

Has anyone been keeping track of the USD-to-COP exchange rate? I was in Medellin in May when it was 3,500 COP and now looking at 3,100.

A year ago it was near 4,000. Seems like such a crazy drop-off.

**Mojo Bandit** · 08-13-26 03:15

Originally Posted by MrEnternational [View Original Post]

My ex-girlfriend lives in Cali. She said she was running out of the hospital where she works and fell and people were running over her. Her boss had to drag her away by the arm until she could get up. The building collapsed. .

This might be it:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/R1N1R4uD20s

**Chico Bonito** · 08-12-26 18:07

Originally Posted by Manizales911 [View Original Post]

I was in my apartment on the 17th floor here in Manizales. I thought for sure the building was going to collapse and I was going to die. The damage here in Manizales is unimaginable.

That sounds like a nightmare, glad you and Trip are okay. Hopefully other expats on this board are similarly unscathed. All my friends in Bogota and Medellin who I checked up on told me that the experience was scary, but that they and their homes are undamaged, thankfully.

**Chico Bonito** · 08-12-26 18:02

Originally Posted by JohnMong [View Original Post]

This is the classic American trying to impose American culture in a foreign country he is a guest to.

Yes, this comes off as an uptight American perspective not understanding the norms of a very different culture. The funny thing is, when I lived in Japan, many Japanese had a similar judgemental view of Americans when it comes to being late, unreliable, and disrespectful of other people's time, LOL. Everything is relative.

**Triple Darknes** · 08-12-26 15:44

Originally Posted by MrEnternational [View Original Post]

My ex-girlfriend lives in Cali. She said she was running out of the hospital where she works and fell and people were running over her. Her boss had to drag her away by the arm until she could get up. The building collapsed. Also board member Triple Darkness lives in Cali. I sent him a message earlier today, but have not heard back from him. Hopefully he is okay since he lives in an area where there are no tall buildings.

Thanks for asking yes I lost all my contacts from my other phone.

I'm ok but my building shook violently like Manizales said I thought it was over as I'm on the 10th floor.

Because I live in a new community I thought that there was no damage but there was in the middle of the city mostly with some buildings damaged but it doesn't look anything like Pereira. They whole coffee triangle got hit hard.

Prayers up to all affected but as fas as I know most of the people I know even on the east side are ok.

Hope this Helps.

Trip.

**Manizales911** · 08-12-26 15:32

Originally Posted by Knowledge [View Original Post]

No major damage or injuries were reported in Medellin. It lasted several minutes but it seemed like an hour. I'm glad I got a warning alert on my phone because I had only been awake a few minutes. I think it would have been a lot more stressful if I had to figure out what the fuck was happening. To understand how strong the shaking was, imagine watching your doors swing open and shut and the leaves of your house plants moving like there was a strong breeze.

I was in my apartment on the 17th floor here in Manizales. I thought for sure the building was going to collapse and I was going to die. The damage here in Manizales is unimaginable.

**Knowledge** · 08-11-26 18:13

No major damage or injuries were reported in Medellin. It lasted several minutes but it seemed like an hour. I'm glad I got a warning alert on my phone because I had only been awake a few minutes. I think it would have been a lot more stressful if I had to figure out what the fuck was happening. To understand how strong the shaking was, imagine watching your doors swing open and shut and the leaves of your house plants moving like there was a strong breeze.

Originally Posted by Orgasmico [View Original Post]

I haven't been all over the city, but I haven't heard about major damage. As you can see in this video, some damage is always possible but there isn't an abundance of information. https://youtube.com/shorts/Ko5fFnkxQ...KhN2RupNdXZpew.

**Mr Enternational** · 08-11-26 05:59

Originally Posted by MojoBandit [View Original Post]

Any damage in Medellin? I look at the map and see that Medellin was on the periphery but you guys are saying it felt strong so I can't imagine what it felt like in Cali .

My ex-girlfriend lives in Cali. She said she was running out of the hospital where she works and fell and people were running over her. Her boss had to drag her away by the arm until she could get up. The building collapsed. Also board member Triple Darkness lives in Cali. I sent him a message earlier today, but have not heard back from him. Hopefully he is okay since he lives in an area where there are no tall buildings.

**Orgasmico** · 08-11-26 04:17

Originally Posted by MojoBandit [View Original Post]

Any damage in Medellin?

I haven't been all over the city, but I haven't heard about major damage. As you can see in this video, some damage is always possible but there isn't an abundance of information. https://youtube.com/shorts/Ko5fFnkxQ...KhN2RupNdXZpew.

**Mojo Bandit** · 08-11-26 03:10

Originally Posted by RiceRocket99 [View Original Post]

I second that, I was still partying with a couple chicas in my high rise apt. I told them stay calm, wait it out, but damn it was the longest and scariest minute of my life.

Any damage in Medellin? I look at the map and see that Medellin was on the periphery but you guys are saying it felt strong so I can't imagine what it felt like in Cali and closer to the epicenter. I was in the 6. 9 in California in 1989 about 20 miles from the epicenter and it was definitely a scary time. I was 20 miles from the epicenter but I was in the Salinas Valley so most of the damage was downed poles and broken water mains, but there was major damage in San Francisco which was 60 miles from the epicenter. I read that the Colombia Earthquake was a 7. 2 and while those numbers look close I have read that a 7. 2 releases over twice as much energy and shakes at an amplitude 2 times greater than a 6. 9 - so that would explain to me why it was felt as far away as Medellin.