Two dead after landslide buries a house in Dagua, Colombia
A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall hit the municipality of Dagua, Valle del Cauca Department, Colombia, on April 13, 2025, killing two people after burying their home. The incident took place along the Cali-Loboguerrero road, prompting the preventive evacuation of three nearby homes.
The collapse completely buried the house where the victims lived. Image credit: Alcaldía de Dagua
The landslide hit around 03:00 local time (LT) on April 13, in a rural sector of Dagua, Valle del Cauca Department, Colombia. According to the Borrero Ayerbe Volunteer Fire Department, the incident took place on the Cali–Loboguerrero road at the 26 km (16 miles) marker.
It occurred during the region’s seasonal rain period, a time when the risk of landslides is typically elevated across Valle del Cauca.
The victims, an 18-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man, were rescued by the Fire Department with vital signs, but died while being transferred to José Rufino Vivas hospital. The father of one of the victims, who was also in the house, escaped without injury.
Rescue efforts were led by Borrero Ayerbe volunteer firefighters and local residents under challenging conditions, as unstable terrain and ongoing rainfall hampered operations.
Mayor Karol Villarejo visited the site with technical teams to assess the damage.
Three neighboring families were evacuated as a precaution, with authorities identifying at least seven more houses at risk due to unstable terrain. The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), together with Defensa Civil and the Cuerpo de Bomberos, continues to assist affected citizens in the area.
Authorities are working on measures to reduce future risks, including early warning systems and evacuation protocols.
Residents in the affected regions have been advised to stay alert, as forecasts predict continued rainfall that may worsen conditions in Dagua and nearby areas.
References:
1 Tragedia en Dagua, Valle del Cauca: joven pareja pierde la vida tras un deslizamiento de tierra cauado por intensas lluvias – Infobae – April 13, 2025
2 Dos jóvenes murieron en Dagua tras deslizamiento de tierra provocado por intensas lluvias – W Radio – April 13, 2025
I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.
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