Mexico's Los Topos Join Colombia Earthquake Rescue Efforts

The renowned Mexican rescue team, Los Topos de México, has arrived in Colombia to provide technical assistance and search for survivors in structures collapsed by a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake. A contingent from the Brigada Internacional Topos Azteca traveled from Venezuela, where they had been working for over 40 days, to immediately join the emergency response in Colombia's Valle del Cauca department.

Upon arrival in Cali at 1:30 AM, an advance group of about 17 to 20 members from Los Topos de México began immediate nighttime inspections of destroyed buildings. Baruch Juárez, a member of the organization, explained that they are employing technological equipment to detect signs of life and evaluate high-risk zones within collapsed structures. Despite detecting odors and organic fluids amidst the debris, Juárez confirmed that their initial specialized assessments have not yet yielded positive results indicating the presence of survivors.

The earthquake's epicenter was in San José del Palmar, Chocó, causing significant damage and casualties in cities like Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdó. The Topos arrived equipped with tools for debris removal and specialized instruments for disaster scenarios. However, the international response has seen varied operational dynamics. While the Brigada Internacional Topos Azteca began inspections in Cali, another Mexican group, Brigada de Rescate Topos Tlatelolco A.C., reported that Colombian authorities have limited the entry of external groups, deeming national teams sufficient and only evaluating aid from the United States, Ecuador, and Chile. This stance led the Tlatelolco group to decide against deploying and instead focus on collecting humanitarian supplies. Meanwhile, Topos Adrenalina of Mexico City has formally requested authorization from the embassy to deploy its members.

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We employed technological equipment to detect signs of life and evaluate zones of high risk in a collapsed building.