Ecuador sends humanitarian aid and rescuers to Colombia after devastating earthquake
In a gesture of regional solidarity, the Government of Ecuador has mobilized a specialized contingent to assist Colombia following the strong 7.4 magnitude earthquake that shook the neighboring country last Monday. The support mission was confirmed by the Minister of Infrastructure and Technology and president of the National COE, Roberto Luque.
The Ecuadorian team, composed of 35 rescuers from the Guayaquil Fire Department, has operational autonomy for seven days. The delegation is traveling equipped with approximately five tons of tools and essential supplies for search and rescue efforts in the most affected areas.
Technical experts join the mission
In addition to rescue efforts, the deployment includes specialists in critical areas for post-disaster recovery:
- Civil engineers and structural specialists.
- Seismic engineering experts.
- Geotechnical professionals.
These professionals will have the fundamental task of evaluating the safety of buildings in the impacted areas, determining which structures remain habitable and which pose a risk to the population.
I want to convey calm to the citizenry. The sequence of earthquakes recorded first in Venezuela and subsequently in Colombia does not mean that, as a consequence of these events, an earthquake is expected in Ecuador.
Roberto Luque, Minister of Infrastructure and Technology
Call for calm and collection centers
Given the concern generated by seismic activity in the region, Ecuadorian authorities have called for calm and to avoid the spread of rumors. Although they ruled out a direct connection to possible earthquakes in Ecuadorian territory, they reminded that the country has a permanent seismic risk condition that requires maintaining constant preventive measures.
As part of the humanitarian response, the National Secretariat for Risk Management has set up collection centers in the provinces of Pichincha and Guayas. At these locations, donations of essential items are being collected, such as personal hygiene kits, drinking water, and materials for temporary shelter, with the goal of alleviating the situation of the affected families in Colombia.
So far, the official figures for the disaster in Colombia report 273 people dead, 3,824 injured, and 377 citizens who remain missing.
