- Vehicles waited on the highway for it to reopen after it was blocked by falling rocks
- Many of the victims have been nonetheless sat in automobiles as mud and rocks slid in the direction of them
This is the horror second a mountain collapses in Colombia after heavy rain, killing at the least 18 folks and injuring many others.
The landslide occurred round 4pm native time yesterday as automobiles waited on the highway for it to reopen after it was blocked by falling rocks.
Many of the victims have been nonetheless sat of their automobiles as an avalanche of mud and rocks slid in the direction of them and buried them.
Footage of the drama confirmed it occurred so rapidly that they had no likelihood of escape.
The tragedy occurred on the highway between town of Quibdo, the capital of the division of Choco, and Medellin.
The landslide occurred round 4pm native time yesterday as automobiles waited on the highway for it to reopen after it was blocked by falling rocks
Footage of the drama confirmed it occurred so rapidly that they had no likelihood of escape
Many of the victims have been nonetheless sat of their automobiles as an avalanche of mud and rocks slid in the direction of them and buried them
The landslide caught on video was one in every of three inside a three-mile stretch of the highway that occurred in an space referred to as Las Toldas.
Initial stories pointed to 5 folks being killed and round 30 folks injured.
Early this morning departmental governors in Choco confirmed in a tweet: ‘We remorse to tell you that up till now 17 our bodies have been eliminated within the space the place the tragedy occurred.
‘Twenty-five injured folks have been taken to completely different hospitals.
‘Search and rescue operations are persevering with.’
The mud and rocks from the mountain shifting quickly in the direction of the automobiles on the highway
A truck because it was struck by the landslide on the highway between town of Quibdo, the capital of the division of Choco, and Medellin
Video confirmed the aftermath of the tragedy. At least 18 folks have been killed and dozens have been injured
Choco’s governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba described the landslides in a press release as an ’emergency of significant proportions’ as particulars of the variety of fatalities started to emerge.
A survivor, talking as he tried to assist find victims with different volunteers whereas they waited for professional assist to reach within the aftermath of the tragedy, mentioned: ‘What’s occurred here’s a tragedy of monumental proportions.
‘Several lifeless our bodies have already been recovered, amongst them girls and youngsters.
‘We’re shifting a number of our bodies which were discovered. There are additionally some automobiles which can be nonetheless trapped, the place it is believed there have been folks sleeping inside.’
Another eye witness instructed native media: ‘When the mountain got here down a few of us have been taking refuge inside a close-by home. There are a number of lifeless and injured.’
Handout image launched by Colombia’s National Fire Department displaying the world of a landslide within the highway between Quibdo and Medellin, Choco Department, Colombia, on January 12, 2024
Handout image launched by Colombia’s National Fire Department displaying stopped automobiles after a landslide within the highway between Quibdo and Medellin, Choco Department, Colombia, on January 12, 2024
The variety of lifeless and injured is predicted to rise because the search and rescue operation continues.
A nationwide catastrophe administration unit mentioned after the regional authorities affirmation of 25 casualties that round 35 folks have been being handled for his or her accidents.
A helicopter has been mobilised as a part of an air assist operation to assist emergency responders engaged on the bottom.
The landslides within the affected space occurred after a number of hours of heavy rain.
Colombian president Gustavo Pedro tweeted early this morning: ‘All assist obtainable to Choco on this horrible tragedy.’