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

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 were an impromptu creation that developed after the Mexican government failed to respond in a timely manner to the crisis of the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City. Mexfiles offers this explanation:

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.

Watch A 1986 Clip From A Fan Tribute To Los Topos On YouTube

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” International Major General, Los Topos

Hector Mendez, otherwise known as "El Chino," was a founder of Los Topos. This is him back in 1985:

Hector once said in an interview with Mexican newspaper Publimetro that what distinguishes Los Topos from other rescue teams is that they have the "balls to enter where no one else wants to." His second-ever mission was to the earthquake aftermath in San Salvador, El Salvador in October of 1986. Thus began his life as an international rescue worker. Last week he complained publicly that the Mexican government paid not one penny to send Los Topos to Haiti. Back during the Tsunami in Indonesia, Los Topos got as far as their donations would take them--Singapore--and were rescued by a Baptist minister who overheard them arguing in the airport over money. He gave them the $400 they needed to ferry to Banda Aceh.

Dr. Oscar Oliva, Commander Of The Cancún Topos

"Trabajamos con palas, picos y mucho corazón," explains Oscar Oliva before leaving Cancún for Haiti.

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 Vazquez, Cancún

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.

Some other members of Los Topos:

Gerardo Reyes Luis Martinez, El Cylon, Major General South America Juan Carlos Soria, El Cake, SAR Operational, Mexico Erwin Hernandez, El Tapon, SAR Operational, Mexico Carlos Sanchez, El Splash, SAR Operational, Mexico Eduardo Ceron, El Mongoose, SAR Operational, Mexico Juan Vidal, El Viejo, SAR Operational, Mexico Carlos Sanchez Morales, El Cienfuegos, SAR Operational, Mexico Ramon Flores, SAR Operational, Mexico Luis Eduardo Alva, El Barbie, SAR Operational, Mexico

Click The Photo To See A Gallery Of Los Topos

For their mission in Haiti, this is the plan Los Topos have organized through donations from private citizens:

• The first group called "the beachhead" or advance group is composed of 6 elements and departed on Thursday, January 14 at 8:00am from the Cancun International Airport on a private flight to the island.

• The second group, comprised of 10 elements and a canine unit, departed on Friday January 15 at 6:00 am from the International Airport of Mexico City on a commercial flight.

• The third group consists of 3 elements with 2 rescue dogs (Rex and Sombra) and it will leave this Friday, January 22 in the morning from the International Airport of Mexico City on a special humanitarian flight. Sombra was instrumental in the location and rescue of 69 year-old Ena Zizi who was trapped alive under Haiti’s Roman Catholic cathedral for eight days.

• The fourth group will consist of 20 doctors and 5 rescuers with rescue dogs.

Los Topos welcome any further donation. You can find donation information at this website.