Landslip Death Toll in Colombia Increases to 33, Including Children

In a tragic turn of events, the vice president has stated that the death toll from a disastrous landslip in northwest Colombia has increased to at least 33 persons, with youngsters making up the majority of the victims. Nineteen more people have been injured, and rescue efforts are still in progress.

The route between Medellín and Quibdo was closed due to a landslide that happened close to the village of Carmen de Atrato. According to an authority, many fled this natural calamity by leaving their cars behind and took shelter in homes. Sadly, a second landslip occurred, burying the house and a few of the cars.

A survivor, who wished to remain anonymous, told the El Tiempo newspaper about his terrifying experience. He described how the house, which had been giving refuge at first, was suddenly completely destroyed by the landslip. The building quickly turned into a terrible sight, housing about 60 individuals, the majority of whom were women and little children.

While Vice President Francia Márquez Mina posted on social media to acknowledge the deployment of relief agencies, local authorities, police, and the army to support ongoing search and rescue efforts in the Choco province, President Gustavo Preto of Colombia pledged “all help available” to the Choco region.

The afflicted area is in Choco province, which borders the Pacific Ocean. It contains extensive forests, and on Friday and Saturday, it received a lot of rain. The Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology, and Environmental Studies in Colombia has issued warnings due to heavy rains, especially in areas that border the Amazon jungle and the Pacific Ocean. This is despite the country’s severe drought conditions.

Colombia has been rocked by the disaster, which has resulted in extensive media coverage and an outpouring of horror and sympathy on social media. There are reports that some people are still buried under the debris while rescue efforts continue, which highlights the critical necessity for coordinated efforts to deal with this dire scenario.