At least 5 killed, 30 missing in west Colombia landslide

At least five people were killed and another 30 were reported missing after a landslide hit workers removing rubble from a previous landslide in west Colombia.

The event took place around 20:30 UTC (15:30 local time) on June 9, 2016, on the road between Medellin and Quibdo, the capital of the Pacific Choco province.

“A bulldozer was working at the site of a previous landslide when a new avalanche took approximately 15 people and two vehicles down the mountain," Cesar Urueña of the Red Cross said, as quoted by Colombia Reports.

West Colombia landslide – June 9, 2016. Credit: Colombia Reports

The regional disaster manager told newspaper El Tiempo that as many as 30 people went missing after the road works caused the landslide, the paper said. Rescue workers were sent to the remote site to see if other people are missing and to begin rescue operations.

Featured image credit: West Colombia landslide – June 9, 2016. Credit: Colombia Reports