Meet The Most Elite Earthquake Rescue Team In The World: Los Topos De Mexico

[Xipe Totec]

Mexico is no stranger to earthquakes or resourcefulness, so naturally, from among the ranks of ordinary citizens has arisen an elite rescue team trained to act in emergency situations of the most perilous kind. Their official name is “Tecnicos en Urgencias Medicas, Seguridad y Rescate 19 de Septiembre”, (the date, in 1985, when a magnitude 8.1 earthquake killed at least 9,500 and left more than 100,000 people homeless in Michoacan.), but they are better known to their fans as Los Topos, or The Moles.



Los Topos are still comprised of volunteers who will leave their jobs at a moment’s notice to travel across the world, on their own dime or private donations, to risk their lives for their fellow human beings. Since 1985, Los Topos have participated in rescue efforts in more than 22 countries including San Salvador, New York City, Iran, Taiwan and Abruzzo, Italy to name a few.

Most recently, of course, Los Topos have been in Haiti, involved in the rescue of 15 live victims, so far, after the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that devastated that country last week.

As of yet, not one member of Los Topos has lost their life during a rescue mission, yet they are a rarely-covered group in the American media. Something our commenters have been, well, commenting on. So, let’s take a closer look at a few of these unsung heroes.


Héctor Mendez "El Chino" (The Chinaman) International Major General, Los Topos



Oscar Oliva was one of the rescue workers who saved 69 year-old Ena Zizi who was trapped alive under Haiti’s Roman Catholic cathedral for eight days. Before he left, he told the press that Los Topos work with picks, shovels and a lot of heart.



Leopoldo was in charge of Sombra, one of Los Topos rescue dogs who first located Ena Zizi in that miraculous rescue, eight days after the earthquake in Haiti trapped her. Leopoldo told Radio W in Mexico that the feeling of finding her alive was like that of his children being born.

Los Topos At A 9/11 Memorial In New York City



http://guanabee.com/2010/01/los-topos-de-mexico/

[EFerrari]

1. Thanks for a great story. I saw one of them being interviewed

on Anderson Cooper but they didn't go into any depth about the team itself.

[Peace Patriot]

2. I did see them mentioned in a press report on Haiti.

I can't remember the source. I just remember that it was a situation where 2 or 3 teams had "come by" a particular pile of rubble and made an effort there. The way the reporter put it--that several teams had "come by"--stuck with me, because it gave the impression that, in that particular spot, there was plenty going on as to rescue efforts. I think it must have been a vid. (I don't think I read that--I heard it/saw it.) One of the other teams was maybe Swiss? (--that might help if you're trying to Google it; I don't think they mentioned their name, Los Topos).

That's a pretty amazing "hobby" for somebody to have! Beats the hell out of "extreme sports" as to usefulness to humanity.

[Xipe Totec]

4. Amazing Footage Of Haiti Victims Found Alive After Eight Days

Unbelievable footage of the rescue of 69 year-old Ena Zizi who was trapped under Haiti’s Roman Catholic cathedral for eight days, has been captured. After feeding her water through a tube, rescue workers from Mexico and South Africa were able to lift her out on a board. In the below video, she can be seen letting out an exclamation as she’s finally extracted from the rubble.

http://guanabee.com/2010/01/haiti-rescues/

Mexican rescue worker Oscar Oliva cries with joy as he embraces fellow rescuer Javier Vazquez after the group pulled Anna Zizi from the rubble, one week after the city was reduced to ruins.

[Peace Patriot]

14. GREAT photo at that site of 7 year old Kiki, just pulled from the rubble!

http://guanabee.com/2010/01/haiti-rescues

That kid's going to be president some day! Or some kind of "star"! What an amazing personality shines out of the rubble!

[EFerrari]

5. I saw that on Anderson Cooper. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

3. Mexico should be so proud of these people.

http://www.chilango.com.nyud.net:8090/images/contenidos/articulos/420/heroes-en-mexico_20090609060220.jpg

A spontaneous response to Mexico City’s own tragic earthquake of 19 September 1985, the Brigada’s nucleus were residents of Tlatelolco who — when several apartment buildings collapsed — and the PRI controlled government was either too paralyzed or inept to act — took it upon themselves to rescue their trapped neighbors. While the original crew included some, like sewer workers, who had the special skills useful for the dangerous work of digging though unstable rubble, many relied on a very tough on-the-job training program.

In the years since, the Mole Men — all volunteers who are willing to walk off their jobs and risk their lives for complete strangers anywhere in the world where natural disasters strike — have become one of, if not THE, most respected search and rescue teams in the world. After the Christmas Tsuami of 2004, German airline Lufthansa provided free transport to the Mole Men from Mexico City to Indonesia, where an Australian Air Force plane (and crew) was put at their disposal.

http://mexfiles.net/2010/01/14/los-topos-to-haiti/

~~~~~~~~
Are there any American groups to equal this volunteer rescue group of real humanitarians?

We DO have football heroes, and wealthy politicians.....

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Mexico is...

trust me.

The core of the group was also a man who originally had the nickanme of Topo during the quake, a Red Cross volunteer. He left the Red Cross to help train them in Medical Care.

Also Mexico has gone from ZERO teams in 1985 to over 20 now...

There is only one downside to this group... they hate any kind of technology and while there are times you are better off with spoons and raw hands, and nerves of steel... there are a few times I love me pneumatic lift and my cutter.

Granted, most rescues we avoided the tech as well.

[Xipe Totec]

7. That is a plus

There is a place for technology, and there is a place for pure raw guts.

As long as they are both working, side-by-side, the chances of success go up.

I have deep respect for the advantages that technology brings to the table.

But it is good to know that when technology cannot deliver, the Mole Men are there to provide the last chance to pull a human being alive from the rubble.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. That's the trick

knowing when to use it and when not to.

I did five Technical Confined rescues. we used tech only once...

[Xipe Totec]

9. Bravo!

You have my sincere respect.

Five Technical Confined rescues!

What can I say, other than thank you, and bless you!

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Not here, at landslides

and construction accident oops. The latter were fairly easy.

[Xipe Totec]

11. Does that really make a difference?

Whether it was in Haiti or anywhere else?

If you were involved in rescue operations, you deserve my respect.

One of my first cousins was involved in a rescue operation on a mine shaft in Mexico. An engine failed, and the mine was filled with CO. My cousin, a mine engineer went down to rescue his crew.

He died in the attempt.

That is why my youngest son is named in his honor; Daniel.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Salute to him

Or as we usually did when one died on duty.

"PRESENTE!!!!

[Peace Patriot]

13. Rescue teams are my greatest heroes! PROFOUND THANKS to those in this thread!

Maybe it's because I am claustrophobic. I can't imagine a worse fate than to be buried alive, nor any greater heroes on this earth than the rescue team members who might pull me out.

In any case, it is my absolute, all-time, favorite news story--to read of the efforts of these heroic men and women who will go to the ends of the earth to pull buried people from rubble, caves and holes.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

To the rescue teams: Kudos and laurel wreaths to you!

:bounce: :applause: :grouphug: :applause: :bounce:

[EFerrari]

15. My mom was in Mexico DF from about 1938 to 43. She remembers

an earthquake so bad that the earth was opening up in the street and it's one of the few memories that she has where she doesn't remember where her siblings were, only her mom -- probably because she was hanging on for dear life. Mexico has had some really bad earthquakes.

It was so great so see these men using their skill in Haiti. :party:

[aquart]

16. Bless them forever.

I know giants when I see them.