Deadly Landslide Strikes Central Colombia: At Least Eight Dead
Rescue teams armed with drones are racing against time in central Colombia after torrential rains triggered a deadly landslide. At least eight people, including a child, have died, and around a dozen remain missing in the Quetame municipality of Cundinamarca. The disaster struck late Monday, destroying homes and blocking key trade routes.
Homes Destroyed, Roads Buried Under Mud
The relentless downpour caused several houses to collapse and buried roads under up to two metres of mud. Traffic has ground to a halt after a major road linking Bogota to the southeast was blocked. Even a crucial bridge was wiped out, cutting off vital transportation links.
Civil defence chief Jorge Diaz confirmed that six people were injured in the chaos. Around 20 homes were razed, and rescuers are scrambling to identify who remains missing from the rubble, with estimates hovering near 11.
Mayor Sounds Alarm: Families Devastated
Quetame Mayor Camilo Parrado described the heartbreaking scene as some families lost multiple relatives. Mud and debris have made rescue efforts near-impossible, but drones have lent a crucial helping hand in the search for survivors.
Firefighters have already evacuated dozens of stranded residents, rushing six seriously injured victims for medical care. Despite the efforts, nearly 20 people are still unaccounted for.
Climate Crisis Fuels Disaster Risks
President Gustavo Petro expressed his condolences and stressed the urgent need to boost infrastructure in Colombia’s high-risk zones. This tragedy highlights how vulnerable areas become during the rainy season from June to November.
Colombia is no stranger to flooding. Last year’s water crisis claimed around 300 lives, forcing a national disaster declaration in 2022 linked to a persistent La Niña weather pattern.
The UN’s World Meteorological Organisation warns that while La Niña influences these events, human-driven climate change is worsening them. With El Niño on the horizon, even more extreme weather disasters loom, underlining the desperate need for action.
