Colombia authorises international USAR teams without declaring capacity exceeded

A decision limited to the 1:45 p.m. assessment

The document, digitally signed by Javier Pava, says the needs assessment and national capabilities then available did not justify activating international USAR teams. Its wording describes that moment and does not establish a permanent ban.

Pava told EL PAÍS that Colombia had 23 USAR groups. This describes an existing capability; it does not show that all 23 groups were mobilised at the same time.

Several foreign offers had been received

According to statements reported by the newspaper, offers of specialised personnel had come from El Salvador, Peru, Israel and the United States. The initial decision was not to activate those teams through the international mechanism at that stage.

It should be distinguished from support by volunteers already present, including the Mexican Topos, whose administrative formalisation remained necessary according to the published follow-up.

Material and specialised needs remained

Colombia simultaneously requested other forms of assistance: field hospitals and thousands of food, hygiene, shelter, water and sanitation, and kitchen kits. The initial non-activation of USAR teams therefore did not cancel the appeal for international cooperation.

The categories should remain separate: an urban search team, a field hospital and a humanitarian aid shipment address different operational needs.

Twenty-two US specialists welcomed on August 12

The Foreign Ministry had announced at 10:24 a.m. that 22 specialists from Los Angeles and Virginia were expected. The EL PAÍS follow-up published at 1:17 p.m. says Colombian diplomats welcomed them that morning.

The sources examined give no arrival time, landing place or first assignment. No rescue outcome can yet be attributed to them.

Authorities clarify the diplomatic channel

At 1:22 p.m. on August 12, Foreign Minister Omar Bula said no country was excluded and offers would be handled without ideological or political consideration. At 1:44 p.m., the Foreign Ministry added that it was contacting each party offering aid.

At 2:00 p.m., President Abelardo de la Espriella said the Foreign Ministry and UNGRD were channeling international assistance. These statements do not establish that every proposed USAR team was activated and do not rewrite the August 11 operational decision at 1:45 p.m.

Requests for four certified teams

At 9:16 p.m., UNGRD said it was processing requests for teams from the United States, El Salvador, Ecuador and Israel. It describes them as internationally certified, operating to INSARAG standards, coordinated within the United Nations framework and self-sufficient in the field.

The message confirms a request process, not their arrival or deployment.

Mexican military brigade awaits another certification

Claudia Sheinbaum said the Mexican armed forces rescue brigade had not travelled because Colombia was requesting another certification. She said there was no conflict and that food and medicines had been accepted.

This official brigade is distinct from the Topos Azteca already present and from humanitarian freight. The statement confirms neither its departure, arrival nor deployment.

Two reinforcements announced by the foreign ministry

At 6:12 p.m., the ministry announced that Ecuador was sending 40 rescuers and five seismic engineers for response and assessment. At 7:03 p.m., it said an Israeli humanitarian delegation specialised in search and rescue was in Colombia, without publishing its size or deployment location.

Authorisation announced on August 15

UNGRD says the government has authorised the presence of UN-certified search and rescue teams from the United States, Ecuador and Israel. It says the national programme continues to lead operations and that national capacity is not considered exceeded.

The same post says four departments and 63 municipalities are entering information in the Single Registry of Affected People. This figure describes registry coverage, not a victim count.