IDF Home Front Command Continues Rescue Efforts After Deadly Colombia Earthquake

Rescue and recovery operations persist in Colombia following a devastating earthquake last week that claimed over 260 lives. On Monday morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released new footage from the Home Front Command delegation working in key disaster zones, including Cali, Colombia's third-largest city. The delegation is actively mapping and assessing damaged buildings alongside Colombian and international engineers to determine which structures can be restored and which require further repair.

The Israeli team is also providing Colombian authorities with technological tools and expertise to manage situational data, prioritize response efforts, and support decision-making processes. This humanitarian mission was deployed following a request from Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez and under the directive of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In parallel, a ZAKA rescue team is expected to join the humanitarian delegation to assist in disaster zones according to local emergency guidelines. Since the earthquake struck a week ago, emergency teams have been searching for survivors trapped under rubble. In Cali, home to approximately 2.2 million residents, dozens of buildings collapsed or were severely damaged, forcing many residents to flee into the streets. At one hospital, upper floors collapsed, trapping patients and forcing medical staff to provide care outdoors to around 600 additional injured individuals, according to hospital management.