Colombia halts rescue efforts for Mexican team 'Topos Tlatelolco' after earthquake

Mexican rescue team 'Topos Tlatelolco' has been informed by Colombian authorities that their assistance is not currently needed following a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia. The team, known for its expertise in urban search and rescue, had formally offered its support to help locate and rescue individuals potentially trapped beneath collapsed structures.

Despite the offer of technical and humanitarian aid, Silvia Vallen, Colombia's National Coordinator for Risk Management, informed the Topos Tlatelolco that the country would not permit the entry of external rescue groups. The official stance is that Colombia's own specialized teams are adequately managing the emergency response efforts.

The Topos Tlatelolco expressed their respect for Colombia's decision and international protocols, including those set by INSARAG, the UN-linked international network for urban search and rescue. The Mexican brigade will remain on standby, awaiting further evaluation of the damage and needs assessment by Colombian authorities. Colombia is currently considering support primarily from the United States, Ecuador, and Chile as it continues to assess the earthquake's impact.