Colombian landslide buries bus, leaves 34 dead
A landslide over part of a highway in Colombia has left 34 dead, including eight children. Photo: Getty
A landslide unleashed by torrential rain has buried a bus and affected two other vehicles on a highway central Colombia, killing at least 34 people.
The National Disaster Risk Management Unit said in a statement on Monday that eight children were among the dead.
The landslide on Sunday divided a highway in two in the town of Pueblo Rico in the district of Risaralda.
There were 33 people aboard the bus which was buried in two metres of mud and earth.
A car with six passengers and a motorcycle with two people were also affected.
More than 70 search-and-rescue workers using backhoes and other equipment tried to reach survivors but ended their search on Monday afternoon after 24 hours.
“Solidarity with the victims’ families, they’ll have the complete support of the national government,” Colombian President Gustavo Petro tweeted.
The town had been under a mudslide threat due to heavy rains caused by the La Niña weather phenomenon, according to Colombia’s national emergency management agency.
