Landslide in northwestern Colombia kills 13 people
Heavy rains have caused a landslide and hit a miner's camp in northwestern Colombia.
-
Landslides are common in Colombia due to frequent rains and poor infrastructure.
At least 13 people have died as a result of a landslide that hit a miners' camp in the northwestern Colombian department of Antioquia on Thursday, the regional rescue service confirmed.
"The death toll from the landslide has risen to 13 people. The response teams continue the search and rescue operation to find one missing person," the rescue service said.
#BREAKING #COLOMBIA
— loveworld (@LoveWorld_Peopl) April 8, 2022
🔴COLOMBIA: FATAL LANDSLIDE IN LA ANTIGUA CITY, ABRIAQUI REGION !
At least 12 dead, 2 missing due to a landslide caused by torrential rains in La #Antigua,
The victims have been mainly workers at the El Porvenir mine.#BreakingNews #Video #Landslide pic.twitter.com/zHbdV65LqW
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.
CNN cited Jaime Gomez, director of the risk management agency of Antioquia (Dagran), as saying, "This situation once again fills us with sadness. Last Monday, we emphasized that these events will continue to occur, and we cannot avoid them because they are natural phenomena, but we can avoid loss of life."
Gomez explained that "we're in the rainy season, so people who live or have activities on the banks of rivers mustn't be near these tributaries."
"Risk management is an issue of co-responsibility of all Colombians, and it depends on all of us to do what we can to protect life," he indicated.
Reuters noted that landslides are common in Colombia due to frequent rains and poor infrastructure.
It is noteworthy that in early February, 15 people died and 35 others were injured in a mudslide in the city of Pereira.
