Colombia landslide death toll climbs to 39 as rescuers race against time

Initial estimates had put the toll at 23 on Friday when landslides struck a road connecting Medellin and Quibdo.

Rescue efforts are ongoing as at least seven people remain missing. Rescuers, utilizing sniffer dogs and bulldozers, are working urgently to locate survivors. Videos circulating on social media depict a part of a mountain breaking loose, crashing down onto a line of cars, accompanied by screams.

The landslides occurred in Colombia's Choco department, situated on the Pacific Ocean, following over 24 hours of intense rainfall.

The Ombudsman's Office has issued warnings of a "high risk of new landslides" and called for immediate actions to safeguard lives in the region.

Notably, a landslide in the same area of Colombia in December 2022 claimed the lives of at least 27 people, trapping individuals in a bus and other vehicles.

Despite much of Colombia grappling with drought, meteorologists have cautioned about the potential for heavy rains in several departments bordering the Pacific. (ILKHA)