Topos Azteca arrive in Cali amid rescue authorization dispute

The Mexican volunteer rescue brigade Topos Azteca arrived in Cali on August 12 to assist after the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10, but their participation has sparked controversy over official authorization. The group, founded after the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, came directly from La Guaira, Venezuela, where they had been working for over 40 days. Their first rescue in Cali was a dog named Cristian Kuperbank, pulled alive from the rubble, which was celebrated on social media as a symbol of hope Source: El Tiempo, Infobae. As of August 12, Cali reported 88 people rescued, 96 dead, and 1,224 injured Source: Infobae.

Authorization dispute

The Colombian government stated it would only accept rescue teams from the US, Israel, Ecuador, and El Salvador, all internationally certified Source: Excélsior, La Vanguardia. The Topos Azteca, however, entered without official permission, leading to a heated exchange with journalist Néstor Morales of Blu Radio. When asked about coordination, Héctor Méndez, the 'Topo Mayor', responded: "We are volunteers and answer the call of duty, we are not diplomats, we do not request permits" before hanging up Source: El Heraldo de México. The incident divided public opinion, with some praising the volunteers' dedication and others insisting on respecting national protocols Source: Infobae.

Official response

Topos Tlatelolco, a separate Mexican rescue brigade, distanced itself from the Topos Azteca, emphasizing that effective intervention requires technical preparation and coordination with local authorities Source: Excélsior. Meanwhile, the UNGRD director justified the government's decision, and President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of economic emergency, with the death toll reaching 265 and over 3,400 injured nationwide Source: La Vanguardia.