154 swept to their deaths as they slept
Docs Many more victims could be under the mud
At least 154 people have been killed after a river overflowed and triggered an avalanche of mud and water that swept through a small city in Colombia.
President Juan Manuel Santos arrived at the disaster zone yesterday and warned that the death toll could rise as the search for survivors continues.
Torrential rain led to the incident, which happened at around midnight on Friday in Mocoa, a city of 350,000 people located near Colombia’s border with Ecuador.
A surgeon at a local hospital said he believes there are at least 300 people injured and doctors are running out of blood.
Witnesses described feeling buildings vibrating as the flood began and said there was little time to seek refuge.
Although an alarm reportedly went off, it could not be heard throughout the city, survivors said.
Muddy water and debris quickly filled the city’s streets, toppling homes, ripping trees from their roots, lifting cars and lorries and carrying them downstream.
With most of the community asleep when the water avalanche began, many residents did not have enough time to climb on top of their roofs or seek safety on higher ground.
Surgeon Herman Granados said: “Under the mud, I am sure there are many more.”
Earlier, president Santos said in a statement: “Our prayers are with the victims.”
Videos that some residents posted online showed vast areas filled with wooden planks and debris.
People could be heard cal l ing out the names of missing loved ones.
Oscar Forero, a spokesman with the Colombian Red Cross, said: “There are many people looking for their relatives.”
The Red Cross were planning to set up a special unit in Mocoa last night to help families search for loved ones.