Following a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia, the immediate collapse of cellular and Internet networks threatened to paralyze emergency relief efforts.
The Liga Radio Colombiana, coordinated by Faber Mosquera HK6F, and its partner organizations mobilized to become the backbone of emergency communications, operating on several fronts :
1 . Infrastructure Response and Recovery (within approximately 15 minutes)
- Immediate Activation: Faced with the simultaneous failure of mobile and Wi-Fi networks and the failure of backup generators to start up at certain sites, the emergency network was reactivated in less than 15 minutes.s.
- Emergency Power Supply: In Dosquebradas and Pereira, amateur radio operators immediately powered their equipment using the generator from their partner station, Cultural Remigio Antonio Cañarte, whose transmitters are located next to the technical room.
- High-Altitude Missions (Cerro Campanario): Volunteers from the Liga Radio Quindío (Armenia) climbed Cerro Campanario (3,600 m above sea level), a highly strategic peak in the Central Cordillera that connects the amateur radio network to municipal and departmental risk management systems. There, they restored the relay stations using solar panels, batteries, and generators, ensuring more than 72 hours of continuous operation.
2. Direct support for emergency services and local authorities :
- Emergency Relay for Firefighters: After the official fire department’s digital system completely crashed, firefighters switched to amateur radio frequencies and repeaters to rebuild their operational network and communicate with the outside world.
- Red Cross Operations Center: Luis Hernando Montañez, director of EmComm, immediately set up operations at the Red Cross headquarters in Risaralda to coordinate logistics.
- Strategic Support Posts: Volunteer teams from the Asociación de Radioaficionados del Eje Cafetero (Asorec), chaired by Nair Ríos (HK6JSP), were deployed to key locations such as the official Dosquebradas fire station and the local airport.
- Distribution of Critical Equipment: On-site handover of 15 portable radios equipped with dual batteries to officials from the Risaralda Governorate and the Risk Management Directorate.
3 .National Interconnection and Advanced Technologies :
- Frequency Linkage and Regional Networks :
- Liga Radio Quindío: Provides a link between Armenia (Cerro El Castillo site on 147.120 MHz) and Pereira via Asorecc.
- Radio Club de Antioquia: Interconnects the 146.910 MHz and 146.930 MHz frequencies (Las Cruces, Risaralda) with Asorec, while maintaining constant monitoring of emergency frequencies.
- New Repeaters: Activation of the Belalcázar frequency (for Pereira and Dosquebradas) and installation of a new VHF repeater at 146.880 MHz.
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Information provided by the IARU Emergency Coordinators (EMCOR): for Region 2 CO2JC,Carlos Alberto Santamaria nd relayed by G0DUB, Greg Mossop, for Region 1.
Although Belgium has been spared major earthquakes, it is not immune to a systemic telecommunications failure. As amateur radio operators, are we prepared to work together to ensure the continuity of emergency communications?
To meet this challenge, the UBA’s B-EARS service is doing everything possible to train, organize, and bring together volunteers. Its goal is clear: to channel our individual skills into a collective, responsive, and operational force.