Israeli Home Front Command Aids Colombia Earthquake Rescue Efforts Amidst Widespread Devastation

Following a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday near San Jose del Palmar, killing 288 people and leaving over 200 missing, an Israeli Home Front Command delegation arrived in Colombia on Friday to assist in rescue operations. The delegation, operating under the "Best Friends" mission and coordinated by Israel's Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, quickly joined local emergency teams in the hardest-hit areas, including the city of Cali.

The Israeli team is working at two major destruction sites, focusing on locating and rescuing survivors trapped under rubble. One critical site is the severely damaged University Hospital in Cali, where part of a wing collapsed, trapping people inside. Israeli engineers are collaborating with local professionals to provide structural assessments to ensure safe ongoing rescue operations and to restore the hospital wing for future use.

In addition to search and rescue, the delegation is mapping and assessing damaged buildings alongside local authorities to identify unsafe structures and prioritize recovery efforts. They have also helped establish a data management system to improve coordination and situational awareness for local rescue teams.

The earthquake caused massive destruction, damaging or collapsing thousands of buildings and affecting thousands of families, with critical infrastructure including hospitals severely impacted. Alongside local and international aid teams, the Israeli delegation aims to leverage its extensive experience in disaster zones to continue supporting Colombia’s recovery and rescue efforts in the coming days, hoping to save more lives despite the narrowing window for finding survivors.