Deadly landslide hits Antioquia, Colombia

At least 11 people have been killed and 17 others are either missing or injured after a landslide hit a mining area in Abriaqui municipality of Antioquia, Colombia late April 6, 2022.

Most victims are gold miners who were working at an unofficial gold mine, the National Unit for Disaster Management (UNGDR) said.

“This situation once again fills us with sadness,” Jaime Gomez, director of  provincial disaster management agency – DAGRAN, said in a statement on Thursday, adding that the death toll may rise.¹

Seven people were reported missing and 10 others were injured, Gomez added.

Abriaqui Mayor Hector Urrego told local television that most of the miners were at dinner while others were preparing to rest.

Heavy rainfall has been affecting most of Colombia, particularly the Andean and Pacific regions since the beginning of the country’s “first rainy season” – which lasts from mid-March to June, triggering landslides, causing rivers overflow and floods that have resulted in casualties and damage.²

The most affected areas are in central and western Departments, including Cundinamarca, Cauca, Antioquia, Huila, Nariño and the Coffee Triangle (Caldas, Quindío, Risaralda, Tolima, and Valle del Cauca).

According to the UNGRD and WHO/PAHO, from March 15 to April 3, 10 fatalities, 14 injured, around 5 500 affected people, 22 destroyed, 736 damaged houses across the aforementioned Departments have been reported, mainly due to landslides, followed by floods. Same sources also report eight damaged educational institutions, several damaged roads and bridges.

In addition, media report 2 more fatalities occurred on April 5 in Norcasia and Marulanda Municipalities, Caldas Department due to floods and a landslide, respectively.

References:

¹ Flooding in northwest Colombia kills at least 10, others missing – AlJazeera

² Colombia – Severe weather (UNGRD, WHO PAHO, IDEAM, media) – ECHO Daily Flash of April 6, 2022

Featured image credit: Aníbal Gaviria Correa