Luis Gustavo Ariza Salvatori, the former municipal secretary of Civil Protection in Puebla, has ignited a significant public controversy following his harsh social media criticism of the renowned Mexican rescue brigade known as “Los Topos.” As Colombia reels from a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake, Salvatori publicly dismissed the group, labeling them as “opportunists and manipulators of other people’s misfortune.”
In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), the former official, who holds credentials as a medical emergency technician, compared the brigade’s members to “quacks” in contrast to surgical professionals. He alleged that the group lacks formal medical training despite their decades of international deployment, claiming they prioritize media exposure and photo opportunities with patients over specialized disaster management or risk assessment capabilities.
These comments have triggered a wave of criticism from the public and rescue professionals alike. In response to the backlash, Salvatori doubled down on his stance, asserting that the brigade confuses visibility with institutional capacity.
Conversely, Héctor Méndez, the founder of Topos Azteca—often referred to as the “Top Major”—refuted these characterizations. In a radio interview, Méndez confirmed that his brigade received a positive reception from Colombian authorities, including the mayor of Cali and assistance from the Colombian presidency for logistical transportation. Currently, twenty-five members of the team are active in search and rescue efforts, already achieving successful results, such as the rescue of a dog trapped in building debris. The ongoing debate highlights the friction between institutional views on disaster response and the unconventional operational methods utilized by volunteer search and rescue groups.
Source: https://www.elfinanciero.com
