A landslide in the Pueblo Rico countryside of Risaralda, Colombia has killed dozens of people. According to the local newspaper El Tiempo, the number has already reached 33 victims, a balance higher than the 27 previously announced by the country’s president, Gustavo Petro. Teams are still working on the recovery and the number can be updated at any time.
The incident occurred last night between the towns of Pueblo Rico and Santa Cecilia. A large number of vehicles have passed through the region where the torrential rain was effective.
Among them was a bus from Empresa Arauca with an estimated 26 people on board. According to Civil Defense, it left the city of Cali early on Sunday and crashed after traveling some 270 kilometers, crossing the Andes westward to Quibdó.
While there was a family of 5 people in the vehicle, only one person was rescued alive.
In the place where the incident occurred, there were three peasant houses still standing despite the damage. Authorities believe the residents of these residences escaped injury after being warned of possible landslides.
Petro lamented the situation on Twitter, reporting government support to the victims’ families without providing further details. “I regret to announce that 27 people, including 3 minors, have lost their lives so far in Pueblo Rico, Risaralda. In solidarity with the families of the victims, they will receive full support from the National. State.”
According to the government, since the beginning of August the country has been in a state of “national disaster” due to the worst rainy season in the last 40 years.
Image: Playback/Twitter @VictorTamayoV
Winter leaves 271 dead
Winter killed 271 and affected 700,000 people last year. According to scientists, the rains are associated with La Niña, a cyclical weather event that occurs as the Pacific Ocean cools and global warming threatens to make it more frequent and deadly.
According to the Colombian Geological Survey, “The municipality of Pueblo Rico is under a very high threat from the mass movement (…) associated with the La Niña phenomenon that has existed since August 2020”.
“Today we mourn this city, tomorrow it may be in another region, because we really have many areas of instability in the country and the rainy season is not over,” UNGRD director Javier Pava told the media.
*With information from Reuters
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.