Avellon Williams
COLOMBIA- In Colombia’s northwest province of Risaralda, a rain-fueled landslide buried a bus and other vehicles, killing at least 27 people, authorities said.
The updated death toll was announced on Monday by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who wrote on Twitter: “It is with sadness that I must announce that 27 people so far, including three minors, have lost their lives in the tragedy in Pueblo Rico, Risaralda.”
The president expressed “solidarity with the families of the victims” claimed by Sunday’s landslide, adding that “they will have comprehensive support from the national government”.
As the region contends with extreme weather caused by La Nina, a climate system that causes cooling water in the Pacific Ocean to lead to high precipitation in the Andes mountain, deaths have increased.
There were 271 deaths and 348 injuries due to La Nina in Colombia between August 2021 and mid-November this year, according to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD).
In a mountainous area of Colombia known for its coffee production about 230km (140 miles) from Bogota, the vehicles were buried on Sunday as they traveled between Pueblo Rico,and Santa Cecilia.
During the trip, the bus was en route between Cali, Colombia’s third largest city, and Condoto. According to civil defence officials , approximately 25 passengers were on board.
According to a survivor, the bus driver avoided the worst of the landslide. “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,” Andres Ibarguen told radio station LloroStereo.
On Monday, the UNGRD said it had deployed backhoes, trucks, and other machinery to sift through the landslide. In an attempt to find survivors, more than 70 search-and-rescue workers were on the scene.
The UNGRD reported that five people were injured in the incident and were transported to a hospital for treatment.
Pueblo Rico’s Mayor Leonardo Fabio Siagama also told reporters that bodies recovered from the landslide were being moved to a covered sports stadium.
The Colombian government says it is experiencing the wettest rainy season in 40 years, and flooding will continue well into 2023.
To deal with the crisis, the Colombian government declared an emergency last month, allowing it to draw an estimated $433.8 million.
Additionally, the World Bank announced on December 1 that it had disbursed $300m to Bogota as part of a development policy loan.
According to the World Bank, La Nina is causing “flooding, landslides, torrential rains, flash floods, gale-force winds, and electrical storms” which could damage crops, compromise food supplies, and increase prices”.
In a statement, Mark R Thomas, director for Colombia, Mexico,and Venezuela at the World Bank, said these environmental emergencies “mainly affect the most vulnerable”.
