Columbia mudslides due to heavy rainfall last Friday evening has buried 17 villages and killed more than 260 people including dozens of children. Now, after three days, mud has slowly hardened making it more complicated to search for missing people. The overpowering smell of decomposing bodies has also made it harder for the living to search for their dead in a tragedy that has been attributed to worsening El Nino in the region.

Bodies of the dead due to terrible Columbia mudslides continue to pile in a local morgue. The stench was so strong inside the morgue but it was actually no different outside. A local said that the bodies are decomposing faster because these are in the open air, The New York Times reported. But there are more missing people that are yet to be found as rescue workers continue for the third day. Locals brave the heavy smell as they try to identify the bodies of their missing family members from the dead.

Meanwhile, President Juan Manuel Santos said that 170 victims have been identified with 43 children included. The Columbia mudslides were due to increased rainfall and the river breaking its banks. A source told CNN that at some point, a large portion of the city was covered with water. There was no power but water was in every street.

More than 1,000 national police officers and soldiers are now situated in the Columbia mudslides area. They are involved in searching for bodies, distributing relief and rescue of people that need help. Roads have been completely covered with thick mud making it hard for trucks bearing relief goods to reach Mocoa and nearby towns.

President Santos announced Sunday that water tanks are headed to Mocoa along with water purification systems. He promised that stronger and safer homes will be built for the displaced victims of Columbia mudslides along with a monthly rent stipend of 87 dollars. Santos further announced that he has instructed his housing minister to start the project immediately.

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