Peru Dispatches 12.5 Tons of Aid, Rescue Team to Quake-Hit Colombia

Peru has sent a Hercules aircraft loaded with 12.5 tons of humanitarian aid to assist Colombia in the aftermath of a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake. The aid package, announced by Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori, contains essential supplies such as food, shelter tents, blankets, beds, mattresses, and mosquito nets.

The aircraft is en route to Colombia, and Foreign Minister Carlos Espa will personally deliver the aid on behalf of the Peruvian government. Espa noted the significance of this gesture, recalling the support Colombia provided to Peru after its own devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake in 2007, when then-President Álvaro Uribe personally delivered aid to the affected coastal city of Pisco.

In addition to the material aid, Peru is preparing to send a specialized team of 62 rescuers from its USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) group. President Fujimori confirmed that Peruvian Vice President Luis Galarreta and his Colombian counterpart, José Manuel Restrepo, are coordinating the deployment of these highly trained professionals. The rescue team is equipped to enter collapsed structures and locate individuals trapped in the debris.

The earthquake, which struck Colombia on Monday morning, had its epicenter near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department. Official figures from the Colombian government report at least 188 fatalities, though regional authorities have counted closer to 240 deaths. The rescue efforts are critical as the window for finding survivors narrows.