Colombian landslide toll rises to 61

In one of the worst natural calamities to strike Colombia in recent times, at least 61 people were killed and a yet undetermined number reported missing following a landslide that struck the north-western town of Salgar, Spanish news agency Efe reported.

The farming town with a population of 18,000 woke early on Monday to the horrifying sight of tonnes of mud pouring through houses and sweeping away all in its path.

Over 500 people in Las Margaritas in Salgar were sleeping when water overflowing from the Liboriana ravine carried the mud into their homes, leaving little time for them to flee.

After leaving a trail of death and destruction in that small community, the river of mud moved on through three more neighbourhoods of Salgar.

The National Risk and Disaster Management Unit (UNGRD) put the toll at 61 and said that bodies were being taken to the Legal Medicine institute in Medellin for identification.

It added that 37 people were injured, an unknown number missing, 333 affected and that 31 buildings were damaged.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos travelled to Salgar, 97 km from Medellin, on Monday, declared a state of emergency and promised to rebuild the houses and restore water, gas and electricity supplies to those affected by the landslide.