Operation Péekáamba: Colombian Army stand out in Mexico for its expertise in rescue and disaster response

Péekáamba -which means earthquake in the Mayan language- was the name given to this operation, whose objective was to strengthen collective capabilities in the face of natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies, using real experiences, such as large-scale earthquakes, as a reference.

This large-scale exercise, led by Mexico, involved the participation of 168 soldiers from countries such as Canada, the United States, Argentina and Colombia, among others.

The activity was carried out in stages, including a planning phase and the activation of 13 simultaneous and progressive scenarios, in which participants provided support to the civilian population in the face of a simulated disaster.

The Colombian Army contributed highly trained personnel in search and rescue in collapsed structures, forest fire response, rope rescue, and temporary shelter management. It is important to note that our Disaster Response and Prevention Engineering Brigade is an international benchmark thanks to its training as the USARCOL13 (urban search and rescue team).

This type of immersive experience is key to strengthening interoperability, joint work, and establishing roadmaps for logistical and tactical challenges in real and complex scenarios.

The participation in Operation Péekáamba reaffirms the National Army's commitment to constant preparation, knowledge exchange, and the consolidation of regional cooperation.

With each training exercise, our soldiers reaffirm their dedication to service and their ability to provide a timely, efficient, and humane response to any emergency, always protecting the lives and well-being of Colombians.


Source: Engineer Command.