Updated August 12, 2026 at 9:48 p.m. Colombia time
Twenty volunteer rescuers known as Topos Azteca arrived in Cali at 1:00 a.m. Colombia time on August 12 after travelling from La Guaira, Venezuela. Their activity had been confirmed at 9:24 a.m. at Calle 3ra and Carrera 56; a report published at 4:05 p.m. documents their work at the Ana Pilar building in Cuarto de Legua.
An arrival reported in Cali
El Diario places the brigade in the capital of Valle del Cauca and describes its objective as supporting searches for survivors in collapsed structures.
The source establishes arrival in Cali but gives no landing time, number of personnel or assigned intervention site.
Specialist search equipment
Héctor Méndez describes thermal devices and systems designed to search through structures. These are presented as equipment available to the brigade.
No search result in Colombia has yet been announced. The equipment cited must therefore not be confused with an operation already under way or a completed rescue.
Activity confirmed at one specific site
Cali City Hall says the emergency site at Calle 3ra and Carrera 56 is being handled with rescue work by Topos Azteca. This official post confirms brigade activity at that location.
The message gives no personnel count, number of people sought, rescue result, duration or detailed task list. It also does not extend this confirmation to other sites.
Reinforcements from three countries
The brigade brings together members from Mexico, Panama and Venezuela. Its time in La Guaira preceded its arrival in Colombia, but the sources do not detail the exact composition of the group that reached Cali.
The operational value of the reinforcements will depend on authorisations, site assessments and coordination with Colombian teams already deployed.
What now needs confirmation
The start of activity at this specific site is now confirmed. The next decisive details will be the duration of the intervention, the area assigned to the brigade and any results attributed by authorities.
The municipal post does not document a general authorisation, leadership of the operation or brigade work elsewhere in Cali.
Searching the Ana Pilar building
The group is working at this collapsed building in Cuarto de Legua. The volunteers are using equipment including a drone, audio detection, infrared and radar to examine spaces and guide searches.
At the time of the report, the Ombudsman’s Office had no confirmed number of people buried in the building.
One body found, without a complete site toll
Group member Pablo Baruch Juárez said one body had been found. This does not establish a complete toll for the building or the number of people still being sought.
His estimate of a 20% chance of survival is a personal assessment attributed to the rescuer, not an official probability applying across Cali’s operations.
The municipal context
El País attributed to Cali authorities, at the time of reporting, 74 deaths, more than 1,000 injured people, 107 buildings in ruins and at least 643 with severe structural damage. Searches were continuing at eight locations.
These figures have a municipal scope and must not be mechanically added to the national toll.
Distinct from requested USAR teams
Later, UNGRD said it was processing requests for teams from the United States, El Salvador, Ecuador and Israel that are internationally certified and operate to INSARAG standards under United Nations coordination.
Those requested, self-sufficient teams are distinct from Topos Azteca and must not be presented as having already arrived.
Update history
Updated August 12, 2026 at 10:25 a.m. Colombia time
Retrospective addition to the 9:30 a.m. slot: at 9:24 a.m., Cali City Hall confirmed Topos Azteca rescue work at the Calle 3ra and Carrera 56 emergency site. No personnel count, rescue result, new media or video is added.
Updated August 12, 2026 at 9:48 p.m. Colombia time
Retrospectively adds the 1:00 a.m. arrival, the mayor’s 1:39 p.m. confirmation and the 4:05 p.m. report on the Ana Pilar building. The group has twenty volunteers and remains distinct from officially requested USAR teams.
Sources and transparency
- El Diario — arrivée des Topos Azteca à Cali, publié à 09 h 00 min 21 s COT
- El Espectador — autorisation encore attendue, publié à 08 h 07 min 20 s COT
- Alcaldía de Cali — activité de secours des Topos Azteca, publiée à 09 h 24 COT
- El País — reportage sur les Topos Azteca publié à 16 h 05 min 39 s COT
- Maire Alejandro Eder — rencontre avec le chef du groupe publiée à 13 h 39 min 05 s COT
- UNGRD — demandes distinctes pour des équipes USAR certifiées, publiées à 21 h 16 min 17 s COT