The bus was traveling from Cali, Colombia’s third largest city, to the municipality of Condato in the province of Choco.
Police help rescue a bus that was buried after a landslide caused by heavy rains in Pueblo Rico, Colombia (Photo: Reuters)
At least 33 people were killed and nine people were rescued alive after a bus was buried in a landslide in northwestern Colombia on Sunday, the interior minister said.
A landslide triggered by heavy rain hit the vehicle between the villages of Pueblo Rico and Santa Cecilia in Risaralda province, about 230 km (140 miles) northwest of the capital Bogota.
“We have already found 33 people dead, including three minors, and we have rescued nine people alive, four of whom are in serious condition,” Interior Minister Alfonso Prada told reporters on Monday.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro described the incident as a tragedy in a Twitter message.
“Solidarity with the families of the victims,” Petro said, pledging support from the national government.
Pueblo Rico’s mayor, Leonardo Fabio Siegama, told reporters the bodies were being brought to a covered stadium in the city that is usually used for sports.
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The bus was traveling from Cali, Colombia’s third largest city, to the municipality of Condato in the province of Choco.
Colombia was hit by an unusually heavy rainy season for a La Nina weather phenomenon.
According to government data, more than 216 people have died and 538,000 people have been rendered homeless in 2022 so far in incidents related to heavy rains. Figures show that 48 more people are still missing across the country.
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