At least 34 killed, dozens injured in landslide in Colombia

(Patria) - The death toll from a mudslide in western Colombia rose to 34 on Saturday, authorities said.

The landslide hit a busy municipal road in a mountainous area connecting the cities of Quibdo and Medellin on Friday, AP reported.

The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management initially said at least 18 people had died. The agency also said at least 35 injured were taken to hospitals.

The new death toll was provided by the Office of the Governor of Chocó, where a unified command post was established to coordinate search and rescue operations. The office said 17 bodies had been identified and officials were trying to identify another 17. The Prosecutor's Office confirmed the death toll.

#Colombia 🇨🇴 Al menos 17 personas murieron y más de 30 resultaron heridas tras los derrumbes que se registraron el viernes en la vía Quibdó-Medellín, a la altura del kilómetro 17 del municipio del Carmen del Atrato, departamento de Chocó.

➡️ https://t.co/oDK9URLLfM pic.twitter.com/j9l1wQyzl3

— Centinela35 (@Centinela_35) January 13, 2024

Earlier, Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez said in a message posted on social media platform X that the search continued for "people who remained trapped under the landslide." She said several children were among the victims, but did not specify a number.

The risk management unit did not specify what might have caused the landslide, but the Ministry of Defense said on Friday evening that it had been raining in the area, hampering rescue operations.

A video posted on X showed the moment of the landslide, when the side of the mountain slid across the highway, covering some cars. President Gustavo Petro wrote on X on Friday that his government would provide all necessary support in what he described as a "terrible tragedy."