Five people missing after landslide in northern Colombia

Five people missing after landslide in northern Colombia

2010-12-24 10:35:04 GMT+7 (ICT)

SANTANDER, COLOMBIA (BNO NEWS) -- A landslide left five people missing on Thursday and more than 700 others affected in northern Colombia. Fifteen others who were also said to be missing have since been found alive.

The landslide happened in the Rio Negro and Playon municipalities of the Santander department. Initially, 20 people were reported missing by relatives but efforts from the Santander police resulted in the rescue of 15 of them.

The rescued victims sustained bruises and minor injuries and were sent to Bucaramanga city by Colombian army and police helicopters, where they are being treated for their injuries. However, three adults and two children are still missing and are feared to have been killed.

Rescue efforts are still ongoing with the support of the Colombian Red Cross. Approximately 700 residents were affected by the disaster and roads in the area were severely damaged, complicating rescue efforts as the region has only several entry points.

Authorities and local residents fear that the number of missing may rise as rescue efforts are in the early stage. Several landslides have happened in the region in the past week or so.

Colombia is facing the heaviest rainfall in some 40 years, and at least 176 people have been killed so far this year as a result of heavy rains and landslides in the South American country.

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