An Israeli rescue delegation landed Friday in Cali, Colombia. Following instructions from Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, an advance team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was waiting in Cali to receive the delegation and coordinate the rescue efforts following the recent devastating earthquake that hit the country.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, immediately upon landing, MFA representative Ambassador Alon Lavi and commander of the IDF rescue unit, Brig. Gen. Yossi Pinto, departed for the city of Cali to obtain a situational assessment and survey the relevant rescue sites.
The teams are expected to begin rescue operations and humanitarian assistance in the coming hours.
Israel's new ambassador to Colombia, Vivian Aisen, has received her credentials from the Colombian government and is expected to arrive in Colombia this coming Monday to join the rescue mission.
As of Thursday, the death toll in the 7.4-magnitude earthquake was at 281 people. In addition, 3,971 people have been injured and 379 are missing.
(Arutz Sheva-Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)