Families and rescuers continue to search desperately through mud-plastered rubble for victims of flooding and landslides in Colombia that have killed at least 210 people, injured hundreds and devastated entire neighbourhoods.

Several rivers burst their banks near the south-western city of Mocoa in the early hours of Saturday, sending water, mud and debris crashing down streets and into houses as people slept.

Volunteers and firefighters tended to 82 bodies downstream in the town of Villagarzon and said many corpses were still caught in debris.

“We had to recover them ourselves. We think we’ll find more,” Villagarzon Mayor Jhon Ever Calderon said, adding that the town had no coffins or sanitary storage.

Many families in Mocoa stayed up through the night to search in the debris, despite lack of electricity in the city.

“I need to know where they are, if they are injured or where to find them,” sobbed Maria Lilia Tisoy, 37, looking for her two daughters, one pregnant, and a 4-year-old granddaughter in the rubble.

“If they are dead, please God deliver them to me.”

President Juan Manuel Santos made a second visit to the area on Sunday. He said water and energy services would be restored as soon as possible.

Santos blamed climate change for the disaster, saying Mocoa had received one-third of its usual monthly rain in just one night, causing the rivers to burst their banks.

The army said on Saturday that the death toll was 254, with 400 people injured, but Santos gave a lower toll, of 210 killed and 203 injured.

Disaster officials said 600 people were staying in emergency housing and social services had helped 10 lost children find their parents.

The disaster came amid extreme weather across the region, including deadly flooding in Peru and drought-induced forest fires in Chile.

Families of the dead will receive about $6,400 in aid, Santos has said. The government will cover hospital and funeral costs.