A landslide in a northwestern Colombian indigenous community has resulted in a tragic loss of life, with the country’s vice president reporting a death toll of at least 33 individuals. Rescue efforts are underway, with responders working diligently to locate survivors within the debris.
Vice President Francia Marquez shared on social media that the landslide has claimed the lives of at least 33 people, leaving 19 others injured. She indicated that around 80 individuals in total have been impacted by this devastating event. Initial reports from authorities had estimated 23 fatalities and 20 injuries in the landslide, which occurred on a road connecting Medellin and Quibdo in the Choco department.
President Gustavo Petro expressed his condolences and commitment to aiding Choco during this tragic incident, stating, “All the help available (is being sent) to Choco in this horrible tragedy,”
Challenges Persist as Rescuers Battle to Reach Landslide Victims
In Medellin, officials have transported 17 bodies thus far, and forensic examiners have identified three of them, though their names have not been disclosed. Due to multiple road closures, rescue teams and firefighters have encountered challenges reaching the most heavily affected area, with requests for helicopters to provide assistance.
Police efforts have been ongoing since the previous night, as they collaborate with emergency and relief organizations along the Quibdo-Medellin road, utilizing all available resources to rescue and support those affected. Approximately 50 soldiers have also been dispatched to provide assistance, as images from the army depict individuals covered in mud navigating swampy terrain.
The landslide in Choco, situated along the Pacific Ocean and characterized by a vast tropical forest, occurred after more than 24 hours of continuous rainfall.
An anonymous local official reported that many travelers, stranded by a prior landslide on Friday, sought refuge in a house near Carmen de Atrato. Tragically, an avalanche ensued, burying them. Social media and television channels have shared harrowing images of a mountainside collapsing onto a line of cars, accompanied by the sounds of panic.
Notably, this region of Colombia experienced a similar landslide in December 2022, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 individuals who were trapped in a bus and other vehicles.
Despite much of Colombia facing drought conditions, the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology, and Environmental Studies has issued warnings about the potential for heavy rains in the Amazon and various departments bordering the Pacific.
