Israeli rescue workers have been working tirelessly to locate survivors among the rubble in earthquake-stricken Mexico.
IDF teams have been working tirelessly since early Thursday morning to help the people of Mexico in their time of need after they experienced a devastating earthquake, which killed close to 300 people.
The IDF delegation of 70 search and rescue specialists, including 25 engineers who evaluated the damage and provided assessments and assistance in the disaster zone to some 40 buildings, have been working around the clock in an attempt to locate survivors among the rubble and collapsed buildings.
Mexico was hit with another 6.2 magnitude earthquake on Saturday, halting search efforts for a few hours until engineers could determine whether it was safe to continue the rescue efforts.
Lt. Col. (res.) Itamar Cohen, who commands teams at an office building collapse site, told Ynet news that “the chances we’ll find living survivors at the site we’re working are slim. But our job is to get to all of the trapped so their families could bury them.”
“Our teams have already started locating bodies in a bad state,” Lt. Col. Cohen said. “We’re using technological measures, such as tiny cameras and a geological instrument converted to help finding trapped people.”
Lt. Col. Cohen said the Israeli delegation was met with a lot of support from the local residents. “It’s hard to believe just how immense the solidarity felt here is, we’ve never seen something like this. Even after an Israeli team extracted a body from the wreckage, they clapped,” he told Ynet news.
A clip shows an IDF team walking down one of the devastated streets as locals and members of other rescue teams applaud them.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday spoke by telephone with Israeli Ambassador to Mexico Yoni Peled and with the commander of the Israeli aid mission, Col. Dudi Mizrachi, who updated the Israeli leader on the Israeli mission’s search and rescue operations.
“What you are doing is a mitzvah (Torah commandment or good deed). You are shining Israel’s light in the world, a big light. It is important from a humanitarian standpoint and also to show the world the true Israel. You are making the State of Israel very proud. Be blessed and return home safely! Happy New Year,” Netanyahu told them.
Netanyahu visited the country just days before the deadly tremor occurred.
By: United with Israel Staff
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