Colombia denies rejecting quake help on ideological grounds

A member of Mexico’s Los Topos rescue brigade joins search-and-rescue efforts after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake strikes Colombia. (EPA Images pic) BOGOTA: Colombia's new hard-right government on Wednesday denied it rejected offers of earthquake assistance on ideological grounds, after only accepting rescue teams from right-wing-led nations. The massive 7.4 quake has killed at least 239 people and posed an early test for the government of President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office last Friday.

After it emerged that Colombia had only officially accepted rescue teams from Ecuador, El Salvador, the United States and Israel, the government tried to scotch accusations of political bias and putting lives at risk. "We have been working around the clock to coordinate offers of humanitarian aid," said foreign minister Omar Bula. "Many countries have offered assistance, and it is our responsibility to organize that aid."

"We have facilitated several significant donations, and aircraft are arriving in the country: 100 tonnes offered by the government of El Salvador. "Another flight from Mexico is headed to the hardest-hit areas... 58.5 tonnes from the Mexican government" he said. "We have not excluded any country." It emerged earlier that some of Mexico's famed rescuers called "topos", or moles, had been prevented from working. David Tamayo, head of Colombia's disaster relief agency, said it was a question of qualifications.

"We will only be accepting support from these countries, which can guarantee search-and-rescue teams that are recognised both by the international system and by their own governments as qualified for this work," he said. "These teams are entirely self-sufficient," he added. "They will not require additional resources from municipal authorities. They are arriving with their own equipment, food supplies fully provided."

Tamayo said that Colombia's own well trained search and rescue teams were not yet overwhelmed. Hector Mendez, aged 80, a senior "Topo" and president of Topos Azteca, told AFP that 60 of his colleagues were in Colombia. He pleaded with authorities to allow them to work. "So many people want to help, want to give everything they have to try to rescue those trapped," he said. "I ask you, I beg you, let's work together and try to recover our brothers and sisters buried in different locations" he told AFP.

"If we start trying to politicise this, then we're on the wrong track".