Colombia landslide leaves more than 250 dead
Last edited Sun Apr 2, 2017, 05:02 AM - Edit history (1)
Source: The Guardian/Reuters
Flooding and mudslides in the Colombian city of Mocoa sent torrents of water and debris crashing onto houses in the early hours of Saturday morning, killing 254 people, injuring hundreds and sending terrified residents, some in their pyjamas, scrambling to evacuate.
Heavy rains caused several rivers to overflow, pushing sediment and rocks on to buildings and roads in the capital of southwestern Putumayo province and immobilising cars in several feet of mud.
...
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos flew to Mocoa, population 345,000, to oversee rescue efforts on the city outskirts and speak with affected families. “We will do everything possible to help them,” Santos said after confirming the death toll. “It breaks my heart.”
The army said in a statement that 254 people were killed, 400 people had been injured and 200 were missing. More than 1,100 soldiers and police officers were called in to help dig people out in 17 affected neighborhoods.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/01/colombia-landslide-mocoa-putumayo-heavy-rains
Fuck.
(excerpt updated with new info; it gets worse and worse)
= new reply since forum marked as read
Colombia: 193 dead after rivers overflow, toppling homes
Christine Armario, Associated Press Updated 9:18 pm, Saturday, April 1, 2017
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — An avalanche of water from three overflowing rivers tore through a small city in Colombia while people slept, destroying homes, sweeping away cars and killing at least 193 unsuspecting residents.
The incident triggered by a sudden, heavy rainstorm happened around midnight in Mocoa, a provincial capital of about 40,000 tucked between mountains near Colombia's southern border with Ecuador.
Muddy water quickly surged through the city's streets, toppling homes, ripping trees from their roots and carrying a torrent of rocks and debris downstream. Many residents did not have enough time to flee.
According to the Red Cross, 202 people were injured and 220 believed missing. President Juan Manuel Santos declared a state of emergency and said the death toll will likely rise but warned against speculating about how many are dead. Late Saturday, he said the toll had reached 193.
More:
http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/24-dead-after-river-overflows-destroying-homes-11043213.php
We all know how much he loves Latin America...
