Israeli rescue specialists are assisting local authorities in Cali with search and rescue efforts, structural assessments and emergency management following the earthquake.

By David Brummer

An Israeli Home Front Command delegation has begun operating at disaster sites in Cali, Colombia, following the earthquake that struck the country.

The “Brotherhood of Friends” delegation, led by the Home Front Command in cooperation with the Defense and Foreign Ministries, arrived in Colombia on Friday and immediately began working alongside local authorities and emergency professionals.

Israeli teams are currently operating at two major sites where buildings were damaged, assisting local rescue efforts and working with volunteers from the surrounding area to locate and extract people who may be trapped.

At the city’s university hospital, which sustained damage in the earthquake, Home Front Command engineers are working alongside Colombian specialists on a complex assessment of the structure.

Their role includes advising local authorities on how to safely remove debris and clear the affected section, to enable rescue operations and eventually return the damaged wing to service.

The delegation is also helping authorities survey and classify buildings affected by the earthquake. The assessment is intended to provide a clearer picture of the damage and help determine priorities for continued rescue and recovery efforts.

Israeli personnel are also assisting in the establishment of a system for managing and organizing information gathered from the affected areas.

The system is designed to help local authorities maintain an updated operational picture and make decisions as the response develops.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Embassy in Colombia, headed by Ambassador Alon Lavi, prepared diplomatic and administrative support for the delegation ahead of its arrival.

The IDF team is expected to continue operating in the field and provide Colombian authorities with its expertise and experience in disaster response, with a focus on helping save lives and address the earthquake’s aftermath.