Mexican rescue team prepares for Colombian earthquake

On August 10, 2026, a magnitude‑7.4 earthquake struck Colombia, causing dozens of collapsed buildings, 132 deaths and 87 injuries. First responders and volunteers work amid the rubble, searching for survivors while authorities assess the scope of the tragedy.

Mexican rescue mobilizes for Colombia

The Topos USAR BREC rescue group, led by Carlos Cienfuegos, requested logistical support to travel to Colombia and offer solidarity to affected families. The members expressed willingness to go to the South American country to join search, rescue, and assistance operations for people at risk.

Goal of the search and rescue mission

The mission involves locating, caring for, and extracting from collapsed areas individuals who may be trapped in the debris, using specialized urban rescue techniques and tools.

Meaning of USAR and BREC

USAR stands for the English term “urban search and rescue”. BREC denotes “search and rescue in collapsed structures”.

Structure and operation of Topos USAR BREC

Topos are mainly composed of trained rescuers and volunteers who regularly travel to areas affected by natural disasters to cooperate with authorities and provide humanitarian assistance during emergencies.

Logistical challenges and change of plans

According to Romanian journalist Román Camacho, commander Cienfuegos reported that the team was returning from Venezuela to Mexico, but changed its itinerary to head toward Colombia, requiring logistical support for the new mission.

With information from Semana.