Mexico said Colombia rejected its earthquake rescue team, while Colombia denied that politics played a role in the decision. The dispute unfolded as both countries worked to respond to a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Colombia.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Colombia rejected the deployment of a brigade of Mexican rescuers. At a press conference from the National Palace, Sheinbaum said: 'They are certified, but now they are asking for another certification.'
Sheinbaum said the team of specialists has responded to similar crises in more than 98 countries. She added that the Rescue Brigade of Mexico's Secretariat of National Defense was not approved by the Colombian government and is ready to leave at any time.
It is ready to leave at any time.
The earthquake death toll rose to 273, with thousands more injured or missing.
Colombia announced that the first shipment of humanitarian aid sent by Mexico on Air Force planes arrived in Pereira, Colombia, on Thursday. The shipment carried more than 19.5 tons of assistance, part of more than 58 tons that the Mexican government promised to send.
The earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, damaging homes, schools, hospitals and other critical infrastructure. The epicenter was near San Jose del Palmar in the department of Choco, with tremors felt in Bogota and neighboring countries.
David Tamayo, director of Colombia's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), said the earthquake left 40,753 families affected, 3,824 people injured and 377 missing. Rescue teams have been searching collapsed buildings for survivors, and authorities have warned that the window for finding people alive is narrowing.
