Colombia – Floods and Landslides Leave 2 Dead, 6 Missing

by in Americas, News

Heavy rains have triggered floods and landslides in parts of Bogotá and surrounding areas of Capital District and Cundinamarca Department in Colombia, where at least 2 people have died and 1 is missing.

Meanwhile 5 people are still missing after a landslide destroyed several homes in Norte de Santander Department.

Authorities clean up after floods and landslides in La Calera, Cundinamarca Department, Colombia, November 2022. Photo: Bomberos Oficiales de Bogotá

Capital District and Cundinamarca Department

Heavy rain triggered landslides on the road between Bogotá and La Calera as well as flash floods parts of in La Calera municipality, Cundinamarca Department on 12 November 2022.

The Mayor’s Office of La Calera said 9 people were rescued from a landslide and 2 people died after the overflow of the Moraci creek. One person is still missing.

The mayor of Bogotá, Claudia López, said authorities have reported flood or landslide damage in over 25 locations across areas of Bogotá and the municipality of La Calera.

Colombia Civil Defence reported more than 270 people have been affected by landslides in Bogotá, with 3 homes destroyed and 6 damaged.

Norte de Santander

Authorities in Norte de Santander department of Colombia report that 5 people from the same family are still missing after a landslide in the village of El Molino, a rural area in the municipality of Villa Caro, on 10 November 2022. The landslide damaged or destroyed several homes, displacing 28 families (125 people).

Silvano Serrano, governor of Norte de Santander, said search and rescue efforts have been hampered by difficulty in accessing the site. The land has not yet stabilized and further heavy rain has contributed to its instability.

On 12 November around 75 families were preventively evacuated from their homes in the municipality of Ábrego due to an increased threat of landslides.

Social Media