- A serious landslide at El Peñón de Guatapé injured 17 people, including two children, in Guatapé, Colombia, on Thursday
- The iconic landmark is said to be 65 million years old, stand 656 feet tall and made of granite, feldspar and quartz
- On weekdays, at least 1,000 people visit the Peñón de Guatapé, while on weekends 3,500 people hike to the famous rock
This is the terrifying moment a massive landslide sent pedestrians to safety near a landmark in Colombia. 17 people were injured, including two minors.
Dramatic surveillance footage showed tourists walking near El Peñón de Guatapé (Rock of Guatapé) on Thursday afternoon when an avalanche of rocks suddenly fell to the ground.
As stones began to rain down on the path, six people could be seen walking past.
A woman began running and stopped in front of a guardrail as the powdery debris fell across the area. She stayed there for about five seconds before fleeing.
A visitor (right) looks at the top of the Colombian landmark El Peñón just before a rock avalanche rained down on pedestrians along the sidewalk on Wednesday. At least 17 people, including two children, were injured
The National Police said El Peñón de Guatapé will remain closed while a study is completed to determine whether the site is safe
El Peñón de Guatapé, said to be 65 million years old, receives an average of 1,000 visitors on weekdays and 3,500 on weekends
The area was immediately cordoned off as several small landslides occurred throughout the day and remained closed as of Friday.
The National Police said an inspection of the landmark was planned to determine whether it posed any risks to visitors.
Antioquia Governor Aníbal Gaviria said five people were admitted to a hospital in Guatapé and four others were being treated at a care center in El Peñón.
El Peñón de Guatapé, believed to be 65 million years old, is located in the town of Guatapé, Antioquia, 77 miles from Medellín.
The 656-foot-tall landmark is an extension of the Antioquia Batholith, composed of granite, feldspar and quartz and once revered by the Tahamí indigenous people.
Tourists visiting the giant El Peñón de Guatapé rock run to protect themselves from a rock fall on Thursday
A woman runs away from El Peñón de Guatapé shortly after a landslide occurred at the landmark in Guatapé, Colombia, injuring 17 people, including two minors
The site is visited by at least 1,000 people every day and up to 3,400 on weekends – many of whom climb 708 steps to the top of the rock.
Near the rock entrance stands a statue of Luis Villegas, the first person to reach the summit of El Peñón in five days in 1954.
He ended up buying the stone from farmers who felt the environment was not suitable for growing crops.
Villegas built the stairs and invited anyone interested to climb them.