Tragic Landslide Devastates Marquetalia
Last night, heavy showers turned a quiet hillside in Marquetalia into a deadly slide that buried 11 lives—four of them little kids—pushing homes into the mud. The disaster hit around 2:30 AM local time (3:30 PM SGT), leaving families in shock.
What We Know
- Deaths: 11 people, including four children.
- Missing: Numbers still uncertain—search is ongoing.
- Injuries: Four people hurt; rescue work paused until the rain calms.
- Damage: A chunk of the hillside fell straight onto several houses—pictures shared by the Caldas provincial agency show the devastation.
Officials Respond
Vice‑President Marta Lucía Ramírez will head to the scene along with disaster‑management teams. President Ivan Duque announced the visit after arriving in eastern Arauca province for a security briefing.
Why It Happens Here
Colombia’s mountains are notorious for sudden slides, especially during the rainy season when deforestation and informal housing on steep slopes make communities vulnerable. Last year’s Mocoa slide claimed 300 lives in the south. The government warns that \n millions could be at risk from future landslides and flooding.
For now, the skies keep pouring, and rescue operations lie on hold—while families and officials brace themselves for a slow, painstaking recovery process.
