The Alcaldía de Barranquilla announced the suspension of in-person classes in all official district schools on September 1, 2026, due to possible water service cuts caused by scheduled maintenance work on the water supply system. ^[1] A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on 2026-08-10 with its epicenter near San José del Palmar in Chocó, and is described as one of the strongest seismic events in Colombia in recent decades. ^[2] The Alcaldía de Barranquilla announced on 2026-09-01 that it is sending 22 tons of cement and 9,000 blocks to Pereira to support reconstruction after the earthquake. ^[3] The administration finalized a purchase agreement for 31 apartments in the Privilegios complex through a plan combining legal management, technical appraisals, and direct purchases. ^[4] The Mayor's office of Barranquilla announced a decisive step to resolve housing situations for families affected by the collapse of the Privilegios residential complex on November 28, 2024. ^[5] Students at Barranquilla's official district schools will have an asynchronous school day on September 1, 2026, following instructions from each school, rather than attending classes in person. ^[6] The district administration said the preventive measure aims to avoid difficulties during the school day if institutions are affected by lack of water, and to guarantee adequate conditions for students, teachers, and staff. ^[7] Official balances report more than 320 deaths and about 4,600 injuries from the earthquake, which also left more than 300,000 people affected. ^[8] The decision to send the materials was adopted after Mayor Alejandro Char instructed the Office of Risk Management to join the recovery efforts. ^[9] The Mayor's office stated that the remaining 20 apartments require owners to clear legal and documentary situations before they can be acquired. ^[10] The purchase price for the 51 apartments in the unit was established based on an economic offer backed by appraisers from the Lonja Propiedad Raíz. ^[11]