Jonathan Tobon Ruiz ran to the site and helped rescue two small children from the rubble. Ruiz’s courage earned him an education scholarship, honorary Los Topos membership and the nickname “El niño topo” (the little mole).
The explosion, which killed seven and injured dozens more, was caused by a spark igniting a gas leak when a hose detached from a tanker, delivering gas to the hospital kitchen.
For the past five years, Scientology Volunteer Ministers have joined the Los Topos search and rescue team in responding to disasters at home and around the globe. "No matter the problem, something can be done about it."

Scientology Volunteer Ministers, part of the famous Los Topos search and rescue team, responded to the blast that left seven dead and dozens injured.

For three days in overnight sub-zero temperatures, some 200 rescue workers searched through the rubble of the Cuajimalpa Maternity Hospital in Mexico City. Reported in the March edition of Freedom Magazine, some 80 percent of the hospital was destroyed by a blast in the early morning of January 2015.

The explosion, which killed seven and injured dozens more, was caused by a spark igniting a gas leak when a hose detached from a tanker, delivering gas to the hospital kitchen.

Hospital staff saved the lives of hundreds through their fast reaction, beginning the evacuation as soon as they smelled the gas leak.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers, who are members of Los Topos (the Moles), joined their colleagues in responding to the disaster. Los Topos is the highly acclaimed Mexico search and rescue group who, like moles, burrow under collapsed buildings to rescue survivors.

One of the heroes of the day was 11-year-old Jonathan Tobon Ruiz, who lives very near the hospital with his mother and two sisters. Hearing the explosion, the boy ran to the site and as soon as officials arrived, he led them to where he heard cries and insisted they dig into the rubble, where they found and rescued two small children. Ruiz’s courage earned him an education scholarship, honorary Los Topos membership and the nickname “El niño topo” (the little mole).

Los Topos and the Volunteer Ministers first joined forces in Haiti after the January 2010 earthquake, and have worked together at home and in major disasters around the globe. Many Los Topos staff including founder Hector “El Chino” Méndez, are trained in Scientology Volunteer Minister technology and use these skills liberally in their work.

Created by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard in the mid-1970s, the Volunteer Minister program is a broad initiative bringing effective physical and spiritual assistance to anyone, anywhere. Expressly intended for use by Scientologists and non-Scientologists alike, anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities. And all are welcome to do so.

Equipped with effective technology to resolve virtually any difficulty, Volunteer Ministers live by the motto: “No matter the problem, something can be done about it.”

To provide more information on this and the other humanitarian initiatives it sponsors, the Church of Scientology International has published a new brochure, Voice for Humanity—Real People, Real Help. To learn more, visit the Scientology website: www.scientology.org