The mudslide struck a busy municipal road on Friday in a mountainous area connecting the cities of Quibdo and Medellin. The Colombian National Disaster Risk Management Unit had said initially in a statement that at least 18 people were killed. The new death toll was reported by the Choco governor’s office, where a unified command post was established to coordinate search and rescue operations. A video posted on X apparently showed the moment of the mudslide, when the side of a mountain slid over a major road, covering some cars. President Gustavo Petro tweeted that his government would provide all support needed in what he described as a “horrible tragedy”.

Source: The Times January 14, 2024 10:15 UTC