Mexico readies military aid mission for earthquake-hit Colombia
Mexico has prepared a 256-member military team, food packages, and medicines to fly to Colombia after Monday's powerful earthquake, awaiting the green light from Bogota.
Mexico is poised to send a military aid mission to Colombia in the wake of Monday's powerful earthquake, with President Claudia Sheinbaum confirming that the operation is ready and awaiting a formal request from the Colombian government.
Speaking to reporters in Mexico City on Tuesday, Sheinbaum said, "We are waiting for the Colombian government; the National Defense Secretariat has the operation ready." She added, "We are ready to go and help as soon as we are told we can."
Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla Trejo outlined the composition of the mission, which would include a general, his command group, and 255 military personnel—comprising search-and-rescue specialists, dog-handler teams, medical personnel, and doctors.
The aid package includes two Boeing aircraft loaded with emergency supplies: 8,798 food packages, 13,890 food baskets, and four metric tons of medicines. Additionally, the planes will carry 8.4 metric tons of tools, rescue equipment, satellite phones, and tents.
Trevilla noted that the mission would be very similar to the one Mexico sent following the earthquake in Venezuela. The deployment is on standby, with all personnel and cargo ready to move as soon as Colombia gives the go-ahead.