Héctor Méndez, widely recognized as "El Topo Mayor" and the driving force behind the Topos Azteca rescue team, engaged in a heated verbal confrontation with a journalist from a Venezuelan state-run channel. The altercation arose when he refused to record a message expressing gratitude to President Claudia Sheinbaum for dispatching their team to assist in rescue operations.
Méndez recounted the incident in an interview that quickly went viral, earning widespread support for the 80-year-old volunteer. According to Méndez, a woman who claimed to represent a local TV station approached him amid the rescue efforts in Chacao, Caracas, dictating what he should say on camera.
"A young woman from a local TV station, whose name I won't disclose, came up to me and said, 'You have to say this and thank your president.' I replied, 'Listen, miss, let me tell you something, I'm 80 years old, and you won't tell me what to say, okay? You aren't the boss of anyone. I'm not a politician; I'm a rescuer, a volunteer. I'm part of civil society and you won't dictate what I say,'" Méndez recounted.
Méndez admitted the conversation ended abruptly, stating, "Well, I was pissed off, and I told her to get lost," although he later apologized to the journalist's superiors for the heated exchange.
He was even more forthright in another part of his testimony: "How does she dare tell an old guy like me what to do? What's wrong with her?"
Topos Azteca's Impact in Venezuela: 28 Lives Saved
Méndez and his team arrived in Venezuela on Friday, June 27, with an initial group of around 20 rescuers, trained dogs, and specialized equipment. This marks their third mission in the country; they were also present during the Cariaco earthquake in 1997 and the Vargas landslide in 1999.
By the time of the incident, the Topos Azteca had successfully rescued 28 individuals from the Chacao area, focusing their efforts on Los Palos Grandes amidst the rubble of the Petunia building and other collapsed structures.
Méndez underscored the moral obligation that drives their mission: "We have a moral commitment, and we cannot leave until our work is done. I'm not here to flit around aimlessly."
A Disaster of Historic Proportions
The twin earthquakes on June 24—registering magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, with just a 39-second interval—are the strongest recorded in Venezuela since 1900. As of June 29, the official toll includes 1,520 fatalities, 3,150 injuries, and 12,721 displaced families, with 774 buildings collapsed nationwide. The United Nations estimates over 50,000 people missing, while the citizen platform disappearedterremotovenezuela.com reports more than 60,000 individuals unaccounted for since the quakes.
FAQs on the Venezuelan Earthquake and Rescue Efforts
Who is Héctor Méndez?
Héctor Méndez, known as "El Topo Mayor," is the founder of the Topos Azteca rescue team and a prominent figure in Mexican rescue missions.
What was the cause of the confrontation with the Venezuelan journalist?
The confrontation occurred when Méndez refused to record a message of thanks to President Claudia Sheinbaum as requested by the journalist.
How many people have the Topos Azteca rescued in Venezuela?
The Topos Azteca have rescued 28 people alive in the Chacao area of Venezuela.