The Mexican government is ready to deploy emergency supplies pending a request from Colombian authorities.
On Tuesday, Mexican Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla said that his country is ready to send the “Cali Grouping” to Colombia, a contingent of 255 military personnel specializing in search and rescue who are accompanied by canine teams and health and medical personnel.
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President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration is also prepared to send satellite phones, radios, electric generators, tents, 4 tons of medicines, 8.4 tons of tools and rescue equipment, 8,798 food packages and 13,890 food baskets.
Mexican personnel and materials would be transported on two Boeing aircraft, a Hercules C-130 and a Spartan aircraft from the Mexican Air Force. The planned destination is Alfonso Bonilla International Airport in the city of Cali.
On Tuesday, however, Sheinbaum clarified that the deployment of Mexican assistance still depends on a request from Colombian authorities. “We are waiting for the formal request from the Government of Colombia. We are ready to go and help as soon as they tell us to,” she said.
At least 224 people have been killed and 3,000 remain missing after a devastating earthquake in Colombia, with hundreds more injured. pic.twitter.com/SO4bwKJK11
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 11, 2026
The preparation of the contingent comes after Sheinbaum instructed Mexico’s armed forces to ready personnel and resources to support Colombia, as part of Mexico’s humanitarian assistance policy, which it has deployed in response to emergencies in other Latin American countries.
Mexico has previously turned to specialized military teams to provide international assistance following disasters and emergencies, through search-and-rescue, medical care and supply-distribution contingents.
The magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday has so far left at least 240 people dead. These figures, however, have been compiled by various humanitarian and social organizations given that President Abelardo De La Espriella has not yet provided official data.
Pereira, Cali, Quibdo, Manizales and Armenia are the main cities that remain under a red alert because of the extent of the damage, including at least 165 collapsed buildings.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
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