Colombia receives international aid for earthquake rescue efforts

Colombia is mobilizing international assistance following a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck on August 10. President Abelardo De La Espriella declared a national disaster and announced an economic emergency to address the widespread devastation.

The country is receiving crucial support for search and rescue efforts from specialized teams. David Tamayo, director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), confirmed that requests are being processed for teams from the United States, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Israel. These teams are internationally certified and adhere to UN Insarag standards.

Tamayo emphasized that these international groups are fully autonomous and will not require additional resources from municipal administrations. Their role is to bolster the efforts of Colombia's own USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) teams, who are currently working tirelessly to save lives in the affected areas. The collaboration aims to expedite rescue operations and provide much-needed expertise in the wake of the significant seismic event.