The death toll from landslides in Colombia has risen to 36 as authorities continued the search for seven more missing people, latest updates revealed on Sunday.

On Friday, a landslide struck a road connecting Quibdo to the capital of Colombia’s mountainous Antioquia province, Medellin, causing a breakdown in the natural structure, hitting a residential building, crashing down on a busy road, and trapping over 50 people beneath the rubble.

Rescuers have been relentlessly searching for survivors using sniffer dogs and bulldozers, in hopes of avoiding a greater tragedy. 

Colombian President Gustavo Petro offered his condolences to the families of the victims, as did Pope Francis.

The moment a large landslide occurred in Colombia on a highland travel route.pic.twitter.com/rwVFiBxYvn

— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) January 13, 2024

Risks of landslides increase

Landslides are a recurring theme in this region, as at least 13 people died as a result of a landslide that hit a miners' camp in the northwestern Colombian department of Antioquia earlier in April 2022.

The landslide hit the camp of the Canadian mining company Fenix Oro Gold. One of the miners told Colombian media that the victims were employees of the company. The disaster was caused by heavy rains.

Another 14 were killed in a mudslide caused by heavy rain, on a mountain in central-western Risaralda Province, burying several homes in the impoverished municipality of Dosquebradas.

The Ombudsman's Office warned of more landslides this winter, as rain has been quite condensed in certain areas nearing the Pacific. 

"We call for all necessary actions to be taken in order to safeguard the lives of people who are at risk in the area," the office said in a statement.