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Colombia landslide kills dozens in Antioquia province Colombian town searches for victims of deadly landslide
(about 3 hours later)
More than 50 people have been killed in a landslide in Antioquia province in north-west Colombia, officials say. Rescue workers are searching for victims of a deadly landslide which tore through the Colombian town of Salgar on Monday.
President Juan Manuel Santos said the authorities do not know how many people are still missing. Officials said at least 62 people were killed when heavy rains caused the river Liboriana to burst is banks, triggering the landslide.
Heavy rains caused the river Liboriana, in the town of Salgar, to burst its banks, triggering the landslide. The neighbourhood of Santa Margarita was almost entirely swept away.
Much of the village of Santa Margarita, south-west of the provincial capital, Medellin, was swept away when the disaster hit early on Monday. Most of the houses were poorly built and located near the river, putting them at high risk, an official said.
Rescue teams and residents have got together to dig through rubble in the hope of finding survivors. 'No prior warning'
After visiting the scene of the disaster, Mr Santos declared a state of emergency and promised to rebuild the houses. The landslide occurred at 03:00 local time (08:00 GMT) on Monday when most of the residents were asleep.
There was no prior warning, Salgar environmental official Wilson Betancur said.
Heavy rain had begun falling the previous evening and caused flooding in the hills above the town, he explained.
Debris and mud rushed down the hillside, burying cars and sweeping away homes.
Resident Jorge Quintero described his ordeal when the landslide hit the village: "When I felt my house shaking we got out, my family and me. 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."
President Juan Manuel Santos travelled to the area on Monday.
He said the authorities did not know how many people were still missing.
The president declared a state of emergency and promised to rebuild the houses.
'Courage and fortitude''Courage and fortitude'
"We cannot bring the dead back, which we regret deeply, and we will support the families (of the victims)," said Mr Santos earlier. "We cannot bring the dead back, which we regret deeply, and we will support the families [of the victims]," he said.
"But we have to move on from this tragedy, and look ahead with courage and fortitude.""But we have to move on from this tragedy, and look ahead with courage and fortitude."
"The priority now is the hospital," said the president. Rescue work was suspended overnight but resumed on Tuesday morning.
Earlier on Monday, gas and electricity services in the town were suspended as a precautionary measure. More than half of the 62 bodies found so far have been sent to the provincial capital Medellin for identification.
'Frightened but alive' Antioquia Governor Sergio Fajardo said he expected the number of dead to rise further.
The Colombian Air Force and police have sent helicopters to the area. More than 160 soldiers are working in the emergency effort. He also alerted people living downstream from Salgar to be on the look out for bodies which may have been swept along by the currents.
Some 100 people have been evacuated from high-risk areas. About 1,000 people were evacuated to nearby shelters.
Local official Zulma Osorio spoke of a "tragedy of enormous proportions".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. More rain is expected in the area in the next few days.
Resident Jorge Quintero described his ordeal when the landslide hit the village: "When I felt my house shaking we got out, my family and me. 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."
More rain is expected in the are in the next few days.