At least eleven people – including three children – have died and more are feared missing after a devastating flood avalanche triggered by heavy rains swept through a small Colombian town in the late night and early morning hours, leaving a path of destruction in its wake and forcing the closure of a major highway.
The tragedy unfolded in the village of Naranjal, municipality of Quetame, in Cundinamarca, when flash floods inundated the town and destroyed a dozen houses. Captain Álvaro Farfán, delegate of the Cundinamarca Fire Department, said that the flood waters originated at around 11:15 p.m. local time.
The water level also affected the Bogotá-Villavicencio toll road, which had to be closed. As of Tuesday morning, the fire department reported 35 evacuations, while six people had been taken to hospitals for medical treatment. However, the situation has deteriorated, with Governor Nicolas Garcia confirming at least eight fatalities, and authorities have warned that the figure could continue to rise as rescue efforts continue.
“Thank God, we are all well, which is the important thing,” reported a local truck driver. Compounding the difficult situation, a Middle East Upside Down report noted that the alternative route of the Sogamoso-Guateque highway was also presenting problems due to flooding.
In the face of the tragedy, authorities have activated response agencies such as the Civil Defense, the Red Cross, the National Police and the Risk Management Unit. At the same time, Governor García requested additional support for search and rescue efforts, while the mayor of Quetame, Camilo Parrado, urged the authorities to exercise constant monitoring measures to avoid similar disasters in Villavicencio and other municipalities.