More than 100 killed after Colombia rivers overflow
At least 112 people are dead after an "avalanche of water" engulfed the Colombian city of Mocoa, the country's president says. (Sky News/Inform)
Updated April 1, 2017 - 12:45 pm
BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos says at least 112 people have been killed after intense rains triggered an avalanche of mud and water from overflowing rivers that swept through a small city.
Santos arrived at the disaster zone Saturday, warning the death toll could rise as the search for survivors continues.
The incident happened around midnight in Mocoa, a city of 350,000 located near Colombia’s border with Ecuador.
A surgeon at the local hospital says he believes there are at least 300 people injured and that doctors are running out of blood.
Witnesses described feeling buildings vibrate and say there was little time to seek refuge, catching some victims off guard in their sleep.
