At least 17 fatalities after floods and landslides hit Antioquia, Colombia
Featured image: Landslide in Puerto Valdivia, Colombia. Credit: DAGRAN
At least 17 people have been killed, 12 were injured and more than 10 remain missing after several days of heavy rain caused floods and landslides in northwestern Colombia.
A landslide hit the village of Cachirime in Puerto Valdivia, Antioquia in the early morning hours of Monday, November 23, leaving at least 10 people dead and 12 injured, as well as damaged properties and infrastructure. Search and rescue teams are still looking for 15 missing people.
Anibal Gaviria, the governor of Antioquia, said the road linking the city of Medellin to the Atlantic Coast is impassable due to the landslide and urged citizens to use alternate routes.
Landslides in other parts of Antioquia also claimed the lives of 2 men on Sunday, November 22, and left one woman missing.
The Colombian Meteorological Institute (IDEAM) has issued orange alerts for landslides over most of the central-western areas of Colombia. On November 24 and 25, rainfall is forecast over most of Colombia, including Valdivia.
According to officials, the rainy season has so far produced at least 150 flood events, 140 landslides and caused more than 30 rivers to overflow, leaving more than 30 people dead across the country and 60 000 displaced.
More than 260 000 people have been affected across the country since mid-September when the rain season started.
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