At Least 14 People Dead, 35 People Injured in Landslide in Colombia

Recently, a fatal landslide happened in Colombia.

The incident took place in Dosquebradas near the town of Pereira, and heavy rain pours into the neighboring coffee-growing province of Risaralda.

The Colombian Disaster Management Agency said on Tuesday, Feb. 8, that a landslide swept up several homes in central Colombia, killing at least 14 people and injuring 35 others.

Residents of western Colombia lost a lot of people

Carlos Maya, Pereira Mayor confirmed the death toll and warned the residents that there will be another landslide in the area, urging the people to evacuate immediately to avoid certain casualties.

As per Aljazeera, the UNGRD disaster Agency posted on Twitter during the early morning of the landslide in the La Esneda neighborhood.

Rescue efforts are ongoing.

"Our updated report indicates that 35 people were injured, 14 lost their lives and one remains missing," the tweet stated.

According to the BBC, officials have released photos of gaps in the lush foliage covering the mountains overlooking the area.

Other residents living near the flooded river have been moved to safety.

Damages caused by the mudslide

As per Alvaro Arias via DW, they are currently managing the entire evacuation perimeter because they still detect some soil instability.

Dubernei Hernandez, a taxi driver, said he helped dig up two bodies and one survivor.

He said at least five homes were buried in the mud.

Authorities have evacuated dozens of nearby homes for fear of increasing landslides as the Otun River floods.

"A very loud noise scared us. We went out and saw a few mountains at the top of the house," Hernandez said in an interview with Aljazeera. "I went to that place, and it was a disaster in which people were trapped."

According to Reuters, landslides are common in Colombia because of the mountainous terrain, frequent significant rains, and poor or informal house construction.

At least 28 people were killed after a landslide hit the south-western Cauca province last 2019, according to BBC

The country's most up-to-date massive landslide disaster was within the town of Mocoa in 2017 when over 320 individuals was killed.

Landslides are defined as the movement of rocks, debris, or lumps of soil down a slope. These are a type of "mass waste" that describes the downward movement of soil and rocks under the direct influence of gravity.