Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today (Wednesday) ordered the immediate dispatch of an aid mission to Colombia, following the powerful earthquake that struck the country and following a request from the Colombian president. The Israeli directive comes as rescue forces continue their race against time to locate survivors under the rubble, following the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the west of the country. According to Reuters, nearly 250 people were killed and 3,770 injured, more than 9,550 homes were destroyed and over 30,000 families were affected.
🇨🇴🚨 Colombia eleva a 239 los muertos por el terremoto de 7.4.
El sismo también deja 3,755 heridos y 287 desaparecidos. Continúan las labores de rescate.
🔗 https://t.co/Iodk7UGfBj pic.twitter.com/tgKR3tGnYt
— Jalisco Hoy (@JaliscoHoy) August 12, 2026
A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office stated that the decision was made following a direct request from the Colombian president. “Following a request from the Colombian president, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the immediate dispatch of an aid mission to Colombia following the earthquake disaster that struck the country,” Netanyahu’s office said. It was also stated: “The State of Israel shares the grief of the families of those killed in the disaster and will provide full assistance to the State of Colombia.” The statement did not provide details at this stage about the composition of the delegation, the number of its members, the exact date of its departure, or the equipment it is expected to bring with it.
The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, leaving behind widespread destruction. Among the areas affected are Cali, Ferreira, and the Chocó region, where the epicenter was. In Cali alone, more than 50 buildings collapsed, and according to published data, at least 95 people were killed in the city and about a thousand were injured. In Ferreira, 79 deaths were reported and about 300 people are still missing.
La fe es lo último que se pierde….
Momentos en q una leve voz entre los escombros alegra a tods una multitud en #Colombia pic.twitter.com/ukns6VgG1r— Angello Gutierrez (@elangellos) August 12, 2026
Search and rescue operations have entered a particularly critical phase, with the first 72-hour window – when the chances of finding survivors under the rubble are higher – closing. At the same time, more than 130 aftershocks were recorded after the main quake.
Netanyahu’s directive comes after Israel had already offered Colombia help following the disaster. After the earthquake, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar spoke with his Colombian counterpart and offered the country Israeli assistance as needed. Now, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the move is advancing another step: After a request from the Colombian president, Netanyahu ordered an aid delegation to be sent immediately.
The death toll from Monday’s 7.4-magnitude earthquake in western Colombia has risen to 241, with 3,771 others injured, Colombian media reported Wednesday, citing figures from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management. https://t.co/wlDXvip2mS pic.twitter.com/7J4SbuZ9ih
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) August 12, 2026
Israel is not the only country that has joined the efforts. Rescue and aid teams from countries in the region, including Mexico, Peru and El Salvador, have arrived in Colombia, and the Colombian Foreign Ministry is coordinating international aid. The European Union has also announced aid totaling two million euros for the victims of the disaster.
The earthquake has also become a significant test for the new government in Colombia. The new president, Abelardo de la Esperilla, took office just days before the disaster – and now his administration is faced with thousands of casualties, widespread destruction and a massive rescue and reconstruction operation. The challenge is particularly severe in remote areas of the Chocó region, where terrain, communication problems and the security situation make it difficult for aid forces to reach some of the affected communities.