BOGOTA, (Reuters) – A mudslide brought on by heavy rains in northwest Colombia killed at least 17 people and injured 35, authorities said today.
The mudslide, which happened yesterday afternoon, covered a busy highway that connects the cities of Quibdo and Medellin in the Pacific province of Choco. An unknown number of people are still missing as mud completely engulfed several cars on the road, authorities said.
“So far 17 bodies have been recovered from the area of the tragedy,” the government of Choco said on its X account, adding that injured people were brought to hospitals in the area.
Images on social media showed the moment a large piece of land broke off the mountain and fell on top of several cars that were moving along the flooded road below.
The road has been closed by Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD).
