Colombia mudslide: Dozens of people die as bus is buried

Image source, Colombian Disaster Management Agency

Image caption, Part of the mountainside gave way and buried at least three vehicles
  • Author, Vanessa Buschschl眉ter
  • Role, 大象传媒 News

A landslide on a road in the province of Risaralda in western Colombia has killed at least 27 people, the country's president has announced.

A bus full of passengers was among several vehicles buried under mud and rocks, which tumbled down a hillside following heavy rains.

One of the passengers helped his wife and two children escape from the bus before he was buried and died.

At least three children are among those killed, President Gustavo Petro said.

The landslide happened in the early hours of Sunday morning local time on the road leading to the northern province of Choc贸.

Witnesses said an intercity bus, a jeep, and a motorbike had stopped on the road because of a car accident further ahead when part of the hillside collapsed on top of them.

The bus is thought to have had two drivers and 25 passengers on board when it set off, but more passengers could have boarded along the way.

Image source, Colombian Disaster Management Agency

Image caption, Rescuers are proceeding carefully to avoid the bus tumbling down the hillside

One of those who died inside the bus was identified as Guillermo Ibarg眉en. His son Andr茅s told that "Dad helped me get out of the bus through a little hole".

"I had to throw myself down the ravine. When I jumped, the mud had covered everything," he said.

Ibarg眉en also helped his wife and his daughter escape the bus in time.

At least nine people have survived the landslide, including one girl who rescuers saw clinging to the body of her dead mother.

Landslides are not uncommon in Colombia, especially in the rainy season, and mountain roads are often cut off by mud and rocks.