Colombia Landslide Kill Dozens In Antioquia Province

At least 39 people have been killed in a landslide
in Antioquia province in north-west Colombia,
officials say. Bodies are still being recovered and
the authorities expect the number of fatalities to
rise. Heavy rains caused the river Liboriana, in
the town of Salgar, to burst its banks, triggering
the landslide. BBC has more:

Much of the village of Santa Margarita, south-
west of the provincial capital Medellin, was
reportedly swept away when the landslide hit
early on Monday. Antioquia Governor Sergio
Fajardo tweeted that it was a "tragedy" and
"that all emergency teams have been
scrambled".

Local official Zulma Osorio spoke of a "tragedy
of enormous proportions" and asked for
firefighters and first response teams to be
sent from surrounding areas. She said the
search was under way for missing residents,
and that local officials were compiling a list of
all the families which had been affected.

President Juan Manuel Santos and Mr Fajardo
are travelling to the town of Salgar to assess
the damage. The Colombian Air Force and
police have sent helicopters to the area with
rescue experts and sniffer dogs.