Landslide in Colombia

The River Liboriana in Colombia burst its banks on 19 May 2015, causing a landslide that has left 78 people dead, and hundreds injured.

It is reportedly the worst natural disaster Colombia has suffered since 1999.

The landslide occurred at 03:00 local time in the Antioquia Province, while most people were asleep, taking residents by surprise. It was caused by heavy rain which affected the Liboriana. When the river flooded, mud and debris was swept through the region, driving through houses alongside the river and leaving hundreds homeless.

The town of Salgar was badly affected by the landslide, and the neighbourhood of Las Margaritas was almost demolished. Houses and other buildings were swept away by the force of the mud and debris.

Search and rescue efforts are continuing along a 40 km stretch of the Liboriana River, to find survivors who were buried under the mud, but it is unknown how many people are still missing in the disaster.

Antioquia is a mountainous region of Colombia, and often experiences landslides during periods of heavy rain.