34 killed as landslide buries bus in Colombia

A landslide in Colombia has killed at least 34 persons after a bus conveying passengers was buried under mud.

The landslide happened in the early hours of Sunday on the road leading to the northern province of Chocó.

Earlier on Monday, Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s president, in a tweet, said 27 bodies had been recovered.

“It is with sadness that I must announce that so far 27 people, including 3 minors, have lost their lives in the tragedy in Pueblo Rico, Risaralda. Solidarity with the families of the victims, they will have comprehensive support from the national government,” Petro tweeted.

The country’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) added that a child under seven years was among those killed.

El #CDGRD #Risaralda informa que en el km. 13 sector La Cabaña, municipio Pueblo Rico, se registró un movimiento en masa que dejó una menor fallecida y 5 personas heridas, que fueron trasladadas al hospital del municipio y al San Jorge de #Pereira. pic.twitter.com/r3YwKIcjim

— UNGRD🇨🇴 (@UNGRD) December 4, 2022

Advertisement

In an update later on Monday, UNGRD said 34 bodies had been recovered.

UNGRDCoordina | Hoy se trasladarán a Pereira los 34 cuerpos de las personas fallecidas en tragedia de Pueblo Rico. Mañana a las 7 a. m., se realizará PMU en Secretaría de Salud de Risaralda para informar traslado de los cuerpos a sus lugares de origen y entrega a sus familias. pic.twitter.com/9Cd41NegPk

— UNGRD🇨🇴 (@UNGRD) December 5, 2022

Advertisement

One of those who died inside the bus was identified as Guillermo Ibargüen.

His son, Andrés, told Caracol News, a Colombian newspaper, that his father helped him escape before being buried by the mud.

He was also said to have helped his wife and daughter escape the bus.

“Dad helped me get out of the bus through a little hole,” Andrés was quoted as saying.

“I had to throw myself down the ravine. When I jumped, the mud had covered everything.

“Part of it was coming down and the bus was a little bit back from that. The bus driver was backing up when it all came crashing down.” 

Landslides are not uncommon in Colombia, especially in the rainy season, and mountain roads are often cut off by mud and rocks.

However, the country has been hit by an unusually heavy rainy season in 2022, which UNGRD has blamed on the La Nina weather phenomenon.

So far, in 2022, heavy rains have killed more than 216 people, and left over 500,000 homeless in Colombia, according to the agency.

Meanwhile, rescue efforts at the scene of the landslide are ongoing.