Colombia’s Foreign Ministry welcomed 22 US specialists on the morning of August 12 after announcing them hours earlier as support for UNGRD, according to an EL PAÍS follow-up. Their arrival time, location and first assignment have not been specified.
Update history
Updated August 12, 2026 at 2:27 p.m. Colombia time
Retrospective addition at 1:30 p.m. of the follow-up published at 1:17 p.m.: the Foreign Ministry welcomed the 22 announced specialists that morning. Their arrival time, location and operational assignment are not stated; no media added.
Two US origins announced
Colombian diplomats say the group is to come from Los Angeles and Virginia. Associated Press separately reports that the US State Department plans to send two search and rescue teams.
Targeted technical capabilities
The announced group includes specialists in USAR coordination, self-sufficient communications, operational information processing and USAR engineering. The Foreign Ministry also cites their knowledge of INSARAG standards.
Welcome confirmed, with no published arrival time
The official announcement at 10:24 a.m. used future language. The EL PAÍS follow-up published at 1:17 p.m. then says the Foreign Ministry welcomed the specialists that morning.
This confirms a development after the initial announcement, but does not document a landing time, destination in Colombia or confirmed start of a mission at a site.
Operational assignment remains to be confirmed
The group’s operational link with UNGRD and deployment locations remain to be documented. No rescue result can be attributed to these teams before their deployment is confirmed.