Catastrophic Landslides in Colombia Claim 37 Lives

Colombia is grappling with a devastating natural disaster as landslides in the northwestern region of Chocó have claimed the lives of at least 37 people. This tragic update was provided by authorities from the Prosecutor’s Office to CNN en Español on Saturday.

Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba Curi expressed deep sorrow over the calamity, emphasizing the community's shared grief and her commitment to ensuring that residents receive information about their relatives.

The disaster unfolded on a road between Quibdó and Medellín, as reported by Colombia’s Vice President Francia Marquez. The region had endured 24 hours of heavy rainfall, which triggered the landslides.

Seventeen of the deceased have been transported to Medellin for forensic examination. Images circulating on social media captured the horrifying moment when a massive landmass broke away from a mountain, crashing down onto several vehicles on the flooded road below, as reported by Reuters.

In response to the catastrophe, Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, Colombian Civil Defense, the National Army, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, and the Choco police department have been mobilized.

Colombia is no stranger to such disasters. A notably severe incident occurred in 2017, when hundreds of people lost their lives in a mudslide in the remote southern city of Mocoa, following intense torrential rains.

This latest tragedy in Chocó is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of natural disasters, highlighting the vulnerability of regions prone to such events and the importance of emergency preparedness and response.