Colombia Mudslide Kills At Least 14, Some Still Missing

Tragedy struck in Colombia as a river overflowed its banks, resulting in the loss of at least 14 lives, including several children, according to BBC. The incident occurred in Quetame, a municipality located southeast of the capital city, Bogotá.

The Colombia mudslide was triggered by the rising water levels wreaked havoc, sweeping away homes and causing destruction.

Rescue teams are searching for around a dozen individuals who have been reported missing.

The destruction also extended to a bridge connecting Bogotá with the city of Villavicencio, rendering it destroyed.

Reports indicate three children, aged 12, 10, and 6, were among the victims. According to El Tiempo newspaper, the 12-year-old and his mother were swept away by a mudslide.

Colombia President Gustavo Petro expressed his condolences for the tragedy on Twitter.

The unexpected surge in the river's level resulted from heavy rainfall in the area.

Witnesses reported hearing a thunderous noise as the landslide engulfed the main road that links the capital with the southeastern provinces of Cundinamarca and Meta.

The locality of Naranjal was particularly hard-hit, with approximately 20 homes destroyed by the rising waters.

Videos on social media capture the horrifying moment when a house collapses as the ground beneath it is swept away by a fast-flowing river.

Search and Rescue Begins After Colombia Mudslide

Rescue operations, assisted by drones, were underway Tuesday following a devastating Colombia mudslide, The Strait Times noted.

The governor of Cundinamarca, Nicolas Garcia, provided an update stating that the number of confirmed fatalities had risen to 14 from the earlier count of eight.

Six survivors were rescued and transported to the hospital. Among the deceased was a child.

The deluge resulted in the destruction of approximately 20 homes, leaving them completely razed.

Efforts to determine the missing persons are ongoing, with reports suggesting around 11 individuals were unaccounted for.

Authorities are working to identify the residents of the affected houses, many of whom have lost multiple family members.

The search and rescue operation faced significant challenges due to the accumulation of mud, reaching up to a meter high and even 2 meters in some areas.

Quetame Mayor Camilo Parrado described the situation as "very complex."

Relief agencies, including those employing drones, were involved in the search efforts. The army also deployed around 80 soldiers to assist in the operation.

Firefighters have successfully evacuated numerous survivors from the affected area.

Seasonal Flooding Killed 300 Last Year

Colombia experiences its rainy season, typically starting in June and lasting until November.

The country faced severe seasonal flooding last year, resulting in approximately 300 fatalities, France 24 noted.

Among them were 34 individuals who tragically lost their lives when a bus and other vehicles were engulfed by an avalanche.

In response to the extensive damage caused by the prolonged La Niña weather phenomenon, which led to the heavy rains, Colombia declared a national disaster in 2022.

La Niña, characterized by cooler surface temperatures, can contribute to flooding in various regions across the globe.

The United Nations' World Meteorological Organization recently issued a warning highlighting the increasing severity of extreme weather events and climate shocks in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The WMO emphasized that the subsequent El Niño event following La Niña could intensify extreme weather conditions in the region.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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