Colombia mudslide kills at least 33 people and injures dozens of others
Mudslide strikes busy municipal road in mountainous area connecting cities of Quibdo and Medellin
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
The death toll of a mudslide in western Colombia rose to 33, the government said Saturday.
The mudslide struck a busy municipal road on Friday in a mountainous area connecting the cities of Quibdo and Medellin.
The National Disaster Risk Management Unit said initially in a statement that at least 18 people had died. The agency also has said that at least 35 injured people were taken to different hospitals.
The new death toll was reported by Colombian vice president Francia Márquez on the social platform X, formerly known as Twitter. She also tweeted that some of the victims are minors, and that other people remain trapped under the mud. A search operation was ongoing for missing people.
The risk management unit didn’t specify what could have caused the mudslide, but the Defense Department reported Friday night that it has been raining in the area, making it difficult for rescue operations.
A video posted on X apparently showed the moment of the mudslide, when the side of a mountain slid over the highway, covering some cars. The Associated Press couldn’t verify its authenticity.
President Gustavo Petro tweeted Friday that his government would provide all support needed in what he described as a “horrible tragedy."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.