Colombians come together to save survivors of landslide that killed 33, including children

A landslide that occurred in northwest Colombia has so far left 33 people dead, including children, according to the country’s vice president, Francia Elena Márquez Mina.

Government authorities have so far said that 19 others were injured, and that rescue attempts have continued throughout the weekend. Some vehicles were buried from the mudslides, and roads between Medellin and Quibdo were left impassable, authorities said.

“With the coordination of the @UNGRD and the support of different rescue entities, including our @DefensaCivilCo search and recovery operations continue for people trapped by the mass movement in the municipality of Carmen de Atrato,” the vice president tweeted on her X platform.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has promised to send “all help available” to the Choco region after residents abandoned their vehicles on roads and took shelter in nearby houses not far from Carmen de Atrato.

“After flying over the disaster zone, the President @PetroGustavo held a meeting with members of the

@COL_EJERCITO, @PoliciaColombia @DefensaCivilCo, Firefighters, Indigenous Guard and population of the area, who since the emergency occurred, mobilized to the department of Chocó to carry out the search and rescue work,” the president’s office announced on X of his activities.

The Choco province is a heavily forested area that borders the Pacific Ocean and has experienced heavy downpours since Friday. Colombia’s Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies has repeatedly said that people residing in the Amazon rainforest near the Pacific heavy rains are at risk from such downpours.

One source told the Colombian El Tiempo newspaper that local residents were banding together, offering food and shelter to dozens of women and children who needed help.

In a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, the vice president said the government and armed forces deployed police and military troops to search and rescue Choco province survivors.

The mudslides have left Colombians stunned, but many of them have banded together to show support for the victims and their surviving family members as locals work with authorities to try and help those who are still trapped.