Grupo Sura unit pays COP 70.1 billion after Colombia quake

Suramericana, an insurance subsidiary of Grupo Sura, has received around 11,800 claims tied to the earthquake that struck Colombia on August 10. The company has already disbursed over COP 70,100 million to policyholders, CEO Juana Francisca Llano said in an interview with Valora Analitik.

About 9% of the claims have been resolved, while 90% remain in progress. Suramericana accounts for 14% of all earthquake-related insurance claims registered in Colombia, excluding mortgage portfolios. Its disbursements represent roughly 38% of the total amount paid by the domestic insurance industry for the catastrophe.

The insurer holds COP 585,000 million in established reserves for the event. Llano explained that this figure remains dynamic and may adjust as damage assessments continue and additional claims arrive. To prevent rebuilding existing vulnerabilities, the company deployed more than 70 structural engineers to affected areas to evaluate whether homes require repair, rehabilitation, or complete reconstruction.

Llano also highlighted broader systemic risks facing the region, including demographic aging, energy supply stability, and climate change. She noted that Colombia currently records 32% fewer births than five years ago, increasing pressure on healthcare systems and government resources.