A landslide buried three buses and a motorcycle traveling on a road between the departments of Chocó and Risaralda in northwestern Colombia. Emergency authorities have so far confirmed the death of one girl and the rescue of four others, one with serious injuries. However, at least 31 people who were in those vehicles remain missing.
“The emergency trapped 31 passengers on an Arauca bus and motorcycle. Operational units for search and rescue work are present in the area, which is experiencing communication difficulties,” the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) reported on Sunday afternoon.
The accident happened this Sunday morning when the mountain crashed and fell on three vehicles crossing the highway in the municipality of Pueblo Rico, in the sector known as La Cabaña. Although the avalanche struck three public transport buses, one of the Arauca companies that made the route between Cali (Valle del Cauca) and Condoto (Chocó) was hardest hit and was completely buried. Four of the five rescued were taken to Pueblo Rico and Pereira hospitals, where they arrived with minor trauma and are now stable.
The search for the missing continues in the area, but according to Risaralda Governor Víctor Manuel Tamayo, rain and the instability of the terrain have hampered rescue operations. In fact, according to the directive of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), there were “two additional mass movements” that made the rescuers’ job more difficult. There are 70 workers from the National Fire Brigade of Colombia at the scene of the tragedy.
Subscribe here to the EL PAÍS newsletter on Colombia and receive all the latest information about the country.
Newsletter
Current affairs analysis and the best stories from Colombia, delivered to your inbox every week
GET THE