At Least 11 Dead After Landslide Buries Homes in Northwest Colombia
At least 11 people have died in a landslide in northwest Colombia due to heavy rains, with 15 still missing. Rescue efforts are underway, and temporary shelters are in place for those displaced. Local authorities are working against the threat of recurring landslides in the area.
At least 11 individuals have tragically lost their lives in a landslide in northwestern Colombia, according to local authorities who provided information on Wednesday. This disaster occurred after heavy rains unleashed a torrent of mud and debris, devastating crowded neighborhoods and burying numerous homes.
Rescue teams are actively searching through the ruins for survivors in Medellin, Colombia’s second-largest city, alongside the nearby town of Bello. At present, authorities indicate that approximately 15 individuals are still unaccounted for, adding to the urgency of the rescue operations.
In response to the crisis, local officials in Bello have rapidly repurposed schools, community centers, and even a swimming pool to serve as shelters for over 1,300 displaced residents who can no longer access their homes due to flooding. Mayor Lorena Gonzalez Ospina has been overseeing these emergency accommodations.
The death toll has now confirmed 11 fatalities, as noted by Federico Gutierrez, the mayor of Medellin. Emergency workers continue to carry out search and rescue efforts in Bello, employing specialized tools including dogs and drones to assist in their mission. Meanwhile, an immediate evacuation order has been issued for over 60 homes in Medellin that have sustained significant structural damage.
Landslides are unfortunately common in this lush region of Colombia, particularly during the rainy season that spans from April to November. The recent torrential rains resulted in floodwaters that overflowed streams early Tuesday morning while many residents were asleep, leading to widespread devastation as the floodwaters surged through urban areas, carrying debris and sweeping away vehicles.
Colombia’s Weather Service has indicated that lighter rainfall is expected on Wednesday, a welcome change from the extreme weather that struck the region earlier in the week.
In summary, the deadly landslide in northwestern Colombia has resulted in at least 11 fatalities, and several individuals remain missing. Rescue efforts are ongoing as local authorities adapt facilities to shelter those displaced. Landslides are a common occurrence in the region, particularly during the rainy season, further emphasizing the need for ongoing disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience to safeguard communities.
Original Source: www.latestly.com
