NYT Photographer Documents Earthquake Rescue Mission in Remote Colombia

In Colombia's southwestern Chocó department, rescue operations are underway following an earthquake that struck several hard-to-reach communities in the region. Because many settlements in Chocó are isolated and often inaccessible by land, aid flights are being used to bring rescue teams and supplies to the affected areas.

The New York Times photographer Federico Rios joined these aid flights to document the effort. He accompanied rescue crews to capture photographs and video of the situation in remote communities hit hardest by the earthquake. His footage forms the basis of a video report published by the newspaper about the mission.

Isolation as an obstacle

Chocó's remoteness complicates not only the delivery of aid but also the flow of information about conditions on the ground, as many affected settlements typically remain outside the reach of broader media coverage. By traveling with the aid flights, Rios was able to produce visual documentation of how rescue workers operate under these conditions and what relief efforts look like in isolated communities after a natural disaster.

The published video focuses specifically on this rescue mission, offering viewers a firsthand look at recovery work in locations that are often difficult for both rescuers and journalists to reach.