Aid flight from Central Florida heads to Colombia after earthquake
Aid flight from Central Florida heads to Colombia after deadly earthquake
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Rescuers in Colombia are continuing to search through rubble one week after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country.
As of Sunday, nearly 300 people have died in the 7.4-magnitude quake.
On Monday, two planes carrying over 3,000 pounds of medical supplies, along with a dozen surgeons and ICU nurses, are set to arrive in Bogotá, Colombia, from Central Florida.
The aid, coordinated by AdventHealth, the Colombian government and local attorney Dan Newlin, was initially scheduled to leave last week but was delayed due to unrest in the country.
Officials said thousands of buildings have been damaged and that the country is facing an aid shortage, making some emergency surgeries impossible.
The supplies being sent aim to address these critical needs, while the first responders traveling to Colombia will provide assistance on the ground, particularly in remote areas.
On Sunday, volunteers in Kissimmee organized a donation drive to support Colombians affected by the disaster.
“This could happen to anybody here,” said Ingrid Vergara, owner of El Tropico Restaurant. “There’s no homes, there’s no hospitals. So, that’s why we need help.”
Representatives behind Monday’s flight said plans are already in place for the planes to return to Orlando immediately after the drop-off to prepare for a follow-up flight with additional supplies for Colombia.