Dozens missing in Colombian landslide

Dec 06, 2010 |

Bogota

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Columbian landslide

A landslide in northwestern Colombia destroyed at least 50 homes on Sunday, leaving at least one person dead and dozens more missing.

Rescue teams had recovered one body and rescued seven injured in the hours after the landslide, Caracol television reported. At least 36 others remained missing in the La Gabriela neighbourhood of Bello, a suburb of Colombia's second-largest city Medellin.

At least 250 rescue workers were searching for further victims. Hundreds of people in neighbouring streets were also forced to leave their homes as a precaution, Antioquia department Governor Alfredo Ramos said.

The landslide was likely caused by the heavy rains that have battered Colombia for months. However, it had not rained in recent days in the immediate vicinity and the sun shone Sunday.

Caracol reported that a garbage dump had previously been located above the settlement and could have contributed to the landslide. In recent months, two million people have been suffered property damage and 174 people have been killed by floods or landslides.

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