At least 33 dead in Colombia landslide
Heavy rain and stormy weather have caused a massive landslide in northwest Colombia, killing dozens of people.
A government official on Monday confirmed that 33 had been killed in the disaster, warning that the death toll could rise.
"We have 33 dead, but that figure could increase," said Ines Cardona, director of the disaster response agency in the department of Antioquia, adding that between two and five families are still missing.
She said dozens of people have also been injured in the incident.
Emergency teams have already started search and rescue operations in villages located southwest of the provincial capital of Medellin, although reports showed there were difficulties for rescuers reaching the affected areas.
The dawn landslide came after heavy rains reportedly caused the Liboriana river in the municipality of Salgar to burst its ranks.
The governor of Antioquia, Sergio Fajardo, posted a message on his twitter account, calling the incident a “tragedy.” He said, “All emergency teams have been scrambled.”
The president of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, also assured in a tweet that “those affected will receive all our support.”
Hundreds of people were killed and thousands were displaced in the last series of landslides and floods which hit Colombia in 2011 and 2012.
MS/NN/HMV
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