This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-32785201
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Colombia landslide kills dozens in Antioquia province | Colombia landslide kills dozens in Antioquia province |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| At least 48 people have been killed in a landslide in Antioquia province in north-west Colombia, officials say. | At least 48 people have been killed in a landslide in Antioquia province in north-west Colombia, officials say. |
| Bodies are still being recovered and the authorities expect the number of fatalities to rise. | Bodies are still being recovered and the authorities expect the number of fatalities to rise. |
| Heavy rains caused the river Liboriana, in the town of Salgar, to burst its banks, triggering the landslide. | Heavy rains caused the river Liboriana, in the town of Salgar, to burst its banks, triggering the landslide. |
| Much of the village of Santa Margarita, south-west of the provincial capital, Medellin, was swept away when the landslide hit early on Monday. | |
| The authorities say 27 people are injured and 30 families have been affected. | |
| 'Courage and fortitude' | |
| President Juan Manuel Santos and Antioquia Governor Sergio Fajardo have travelled to Salgar to assess the damage. | |
| Mr Santos has declared a state of emergency in the area and, after meeting some of the survivors, promised "to rebuild the houses and make them better than they were before this disaster. | |
| "We cannot bring the dead back, which we regret deeply, and we will support the families (of the victims). | |
| "But we have to move on from this tragedy, and look ahead with courage and fortitude," said Mr Santos. | |
| "The priority now is the hospital," said the president. | |
| Earlier, gas and electricity services in the town were suspended for precaution. | |
| 'Frightened but alive' | 'Frightened but alive' |
| The Colombian Air Force and police have sent helicopters to the area. More than 160 soldiers are working in the emergency effort. | |
| Some 100 people have been evacuated from high-risk areas. | |
| Local official Zulma Osorio spoke of a "tragedy of enormous proportions". | |
| Mud, rocks and tree trunks destroyed many houses in poor neighbourhoods close to the river. | Mud, rocks and tree trunks destroyed many houses in poor neighbourhoods close to the river. |
| Resident Jorge Quintero described his ordeal when the landslide hit the village: "When I felt my house shaking we got out, my family and I. When we got out, we were stuck in the middle of the landslide, it was coming from both sides and we were in the middle. | Resident Jorge Quintero described his ordeal when the landslide hit the village: "When I felt my house shaking we got out, my family and I. When we got out, we were stuck in the middle of the landslide, it was coming from both sides and we were in the middle. |
| "I said to my wife, let's hold each other and hope that God saves us and I know he gave us his hand because here we are, alive, still frightened, but still alive". | "I said to my wife, let's hold each other and hope that God saves us and I know he gave us his hand because here we are, alive, still frightened, but still alive". |