A landslide has occurred in Colombia after heavy rains. At least 15 people died and dozens were injured.
Pereira – A landslide killed at least 15 people and injured dozens in a slum in western Colombia. It has recently rained unusually heavily in the region. As a result, a mountainside had broken off, burying several houses beneath it.
“We have 14 dead and 34 injured by this landslide,” said the mayor of the city of Pereira, Carlos Maya, on Tuesday evening (02/08/2022). The authorities had previously reported eleven dead and 35 injured. According to reports from the German Press Agency (dpa), the number of fatalities increased to at least 15 on Wednesday (February 9th, 2022). At least five other people are still missing in the affected region in the center of the South American country. At least 39 people were injured in the landslide, according to the mayor’s office.
After landslide in Colombia: Local authorities declare a state of emergency
According to initial findings, the landslide is said to be due to “human intervention” in a channel in the upper part of the mountain slope. According to Galindo, on Monday (02/07/2022) “93,000” millimeters of rain fell per square meter – “that’s how much it rains in Pereira under normal conditions in 20 days”. At least seven houses were destroyed in Dosquebradas and Pereira. Dozens of people should have been brought to safety, including numerous families with children. The local authorities declared a state of emergency in Pereira, and the rescue work continued.
Villagers and rescue workers helped clear the rubble to look for bodies or survivors, an afp reporter reported. The military supported the rescue and recovery work. The rescue teams also warned of possible further landslides due to flooding in the nearby Otún River. Dozens of houses were therefore evacuated. It is also expected to rain heavily in the region in the coming days. (hg/afp/dpa)
Just a few days ago, heavy rainfall caused flooding in Ecuador. More than 20 people died in a landslide in Quito.
List of rubrics: © Armed Forces/dpa
