Israeli Home Front Command Aids Colombia Earthquake Rescue Using Venezuela Experience

Following a devastating earthquake in western Colombia that killed nearly 300 people and destroyed around 13,000 homes, the Israeli Home Front Command's "Friendship Alliance" delegation is actively assisting in the city of Cali. Arriving 96 hours after the disaster, this delegation is the largest foreign aid team to reach Colombia. They operate at three of the five major destruction sites, collaborating with local rescue teams and volunteers to locate and extract missing persons trapped under rubble. The team's recent experience responding to an earthquake in Venezuela about three weeks earlier has enhanced their rescue efforts.

In addition to search and rescue, the delegation's engineers are leading efforts to map and assess damaged buildings alongside Colombian and international teams to determine which structures can be restored for use. They also provide local authorities with advanced knowledge and technological tools to manage situational awareness, prioritize tasks, and support decision-making. This cooperation involves close coordination with city officials and national ministers to optimize the response and recovery operations.