Mudslide claims dozens of lives in northwest Colombia
At least 33 people, mostly children, were killed by a landslide in an indigenous community in northwestern Colombia, the country's vice president said Saturday. "I deeply regret the death of 33 people in this tragedy, mostly children, according to preliminary reports from the territory," Vice President Francia Marquez wrote on social media site X.
- Americas
- Agencies and A News
- Published Date: 07:48 | 13 January 2024
- Modified Date: 07:51 | 13 January 2024
A mudslide brought on by heavy rains in northwest Colombia killed at least 33 people and injured dozens on a busy highway, authorities said on Saturday.
The mudslide, which happened Friday afternoon, covered a roadway that connects the cities of Quibdo and Medellin in the Pacific province of Choco.
Dozens of people were also injured and an unknown number of people are still missing as mud completely engulfed several cars on the road, authorities said.
"The extraction of bodies continues," the governor of Choco said in a statement shared on social media.
Images on social media showed the moment a large piece of land dislodged from a mountain and fell on top of several cars that were moving along the flooded road below.
The road has been closed by Colombia's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD).