Colombia mudslides kill more than 200

By Marilia Brocchetto, Fernando Ramos and Ray Sanchez, CNN
Updated 5:53 AM EDT, Sun April 2, 2017

Story highlights

Heavy rains lead to mudslides in southwest Colombia

At least 202 are injured as firefighters search for survivors

(CNN) —  

Mudslides killed more than 200 people after heavy rains caused rivers to overflow late Friday in Colombia’s Putumayo province, authorities said Saturday.

Gabriel Umaña, a spokesman for the Colombian Red Cross, told CNN 234 people had died and 220 are missing.

He said at least 202 people were injured and 300 families displaced. Twenty-five houses were destroyed.

President Juan Manuel Santos told reporters at the scene it was impossible to predict the number of deaths.

“Unfortunately, it is possible that the number of deaths will go up because we have a lot of missing people,” Santos said on local TV channel Cable Noticias.

“We don’t know yet where they are. Many people are coming to us saying, ‘My son is missing, my father is missing, my mother is missing.’ We are working on putting a list for the total number of people missing.”

Rain battered southwestern Colombia on March 31, leading to deadly mudslides in Putumayo province. The town of Mocoa was severely damaged when as a mudslide tore through it. This April 2, 2017 photo shows the extent of the destruction.
Photos: Deadly mudslides ravage Colombia
PHOTO: LUIS ROBAYO/AFP/Getty Images
Rain battered southwestern Colombia on March 31, leading to deadly mudslides in Putumayo province. The town of Mocoa was severely damaged when as a mudslide tore through it. This April 2, 2017 photo shows the extent of the destruction.
The day after a mudslide hit Mocoa, people walk among the devastation on April 2.
Photos: Deadly mudslides ravage Colombia
PHOTO: LUIS ROBAYO/AFP/Getty Images
The day after a mudslide hit Mocoa, people walk among the devastation on April 2.
A man pauses from digging in the sludge in Mocoa.
Photos: Deadly mudslides ravage Colombia
PHOTO: LUIS ROBAYO/AFP/Getty Images
A man pauses from digging in the sludge in Mocoa.
A man and a dog walk down a mud-filled street in Mocoa.
Photos: Deadly mudslides ravage Colombia
PHOTO: LUIS ROBAYO/AFP/Getty Images
A man and a dog walk down a mud-filled street in Mocoa.
A fireman searches for victims inside a mud-swamped house.
Photos: Deadly mudslides ravage Colombia
PHOTO: LUIS ROBAYO/AFP/Getty Images
A fireman searches for victims inside a mud-swamped house.
A resident stares at the rubble left by the mudslides.
Photos: Deadly mudslides ravage Colombia
PHOTO: LUIS ROBAYO/AFP/Getty Images
A resident stares at the rubble left by the mudslides.
A man talks on his phone amid the rubble in Mocoa.
Photos: Deadly mudslides ravage Colombia
PHOTO: LUIS ROBAYO/AFP/Getty Images
A man talks on his phone amid the rubble in Mocoa.
Rescuers search for people among the debris left by mudslides.
Photos: Deadly mudslides ravage Colombia
PHOTO: LUIS ROBAYO/AFP/Getty Images
Rescuers search for people among the debris left by mudslides.
A woman surveys some of the damage in Mocoa.
Photos: Deadly mudslides ravage Colombia
PHOTO: LUIS ROBAYO/AFP/Getty Images
A woman surveys some of the damage in Mocoa.
Soldiers evacuate one of the injured in Mocoa. Three rivers overflowed and unleashed muddy waves that engulfed homes, cars and bridges.
Photos: Deadly mudslides ravage Colombia
PHOTO: COLOMBIAN ARMY/EPA
Soldiers evacuate one of the injured in Mocoa. Three rivers overflowed and unleashed muddy waves that engulfed homes, cars and bridges.
Soldiers and civilians search for survivors in Mocoa. Many residents in the area have been reported missing.
Photos: Deadly mudslides ravage Colombia
PHOTO: COLOMBIAN ARMY/EPA/REX/Shutterstock
Soldiers and civilians search for survivors in Mocoa. Many residents in the area have been reported missing.
Volunteers and soldiers carry one of the injured in Mocoa.
Photos: Deadly mudslides ravage Colombia
PHOTO: COLOMBIAN ARMY/EPA
Volunteers and soldiers carry one of the injured in Mocoa.
People walk through heaps of rubble left by the mudslides in Mocoa.
Photos: Deadly mudslides ravage Colombia
PHOTO: LUIS ROBAYO/AFP/Getty Images
People walk through heaps of rubble left by the mudslides in Mocoa.
An aerial view shows the devastation Saturday, April 1, after heavy rains caused rivers to overflow in Mocoa, Colombia.
Photos: Deadly mudslides ravage Colombia
PHOTO: Cesar Carrion/AP
An aerial view shows the devastation Saturday, April 1, after heavy rains caused rivers to overflow in Mocoa, Colombia.

Photos released by Colombia’s military showed rescuers carrying old women and children over downed, mud-caked trees and homes.

Santos said 130 millimeters, or more than 5 inches, of rain fell in the area Friday night, setting off the deadly torrents. The monthly average is about 400 millimeters, or about 16 inches, he said.

“Here we are facing a disaster caused by nature, by climate change,” Santos said.

Santos has declared a state of emergency.

Electrical power and water were out in Mocoa, and the hospital system was shut down, according to firefighters.

Soldiers recover a body Saturday following mudslides in Mocoa, Colombia.
PHOTO: HO/AFP/Getty Images
Soldiers recover a body Saturday following mudslides in Mocoa, Colombia.

Heavy rains battered the southwestern region of the country on Friday.

Three rivers in the area, including the Mocoa and San Boyaco, overflowed and unleashed muddy waves into homes, over cars and onto bridges, according to Mocoa Mayor José Antonio Castro, CNN en Español reported.

Soldiers and residents help evacuate one of the injured Saturday in Mocoa.
PHOTO: COLOMBIAN ARMY HANDOUT/EPA
Soldiers and residents help evacuate one of the injured Saturday in Mocoa.

In 2015, torrential rains in northwest Colombia caused a landslide that killed more than 80 people as mud rushed into homes and bridges, officials said.