Salgar : A massive landslide tore through a ravine in northwest Colombia on Monday before dawn, killing at least 62 people and injuring 40, authorities said.
Most residents were sleeping when the landslide hit the municipality of Salgar around 3:00 am, burying a large area in mud and debris. The rush of mud and water tore down everything in its path, Salgar Mayor Olga Osorio told RCN Radio.
The small town of Santa Margarita was practically wiped off the map, she said. The country’s disaster management agency reported an increased death toll early on Tuesday morning and said a handful of government organisations were involved in rescue and aid efforts that included debris removal and erecting temporary shelters.
The rescue operation, which was being carried out by some 377 first responders, was suspended overnight Monday and will resume again early in the morning. Aerial images showed a broad river of mud that had inundated a large area, dragging houses and trees along with it. Residents shoveled out piles of mud in the afternoon, trying to salvage what belongings they could, as dump trucks arrived to begin hauling away the mess.
Photos from the agency showed crews in yellow hats clearing washed-out and damaged roads with shovels. President Juan Manuel Santos flew over the affected area and met with local officials. “No one can bring the deceased back to you, that is something we deeply regret. But we have to get through this disaster and look to the future with bravery and strength,” he said.
Several children were orphaned and are being cared for by the Colombian Institute for Family Wellbeing, he said. He announced that each family affected – 30 in all – would receive $7,000, and promised infrastructure improvements to try to prevent such disasters in the future. Ex-president turned opposition leader Alvaro Uribe also visited the area, which is near where he grew up.
