Landslide in Colombia kills 31

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - At least 31 people died after a landslide buried several vehicles in western Colombia, authorities reported on Monday.

The Sunday morning landslide, caused by strong rains, hit the vehicles between the villages of Pueblo Rico and Santa Cecilia in the Risaralda province.

A video circulating on social media shows how a bus, a car, and a motorbike were buried when part of the hillside collapsed on top of them.

The bus is thought to have had two drivers and 25 passengers on board.

By Sunday evening local time, rescuers had uncovered one side of the bus but the rescue work grew more difficult as heavy rain in the area caused the slide to continue.

Authorities are trying to identify recovered bodies, which were taken to a stadium in the city of Pueblo Rico. A child younger than 7 was among those killed.

"Here at the coliseum 23 bodies have arrived, three are in the San Jorge hospital, and five more were discharged and we continue to remove more," Pueblo Rico Mayor Leonardo Fabio Siagama told reporters.

Personnel and heavy machinery have been deployed to find possible survivors and clear the roads. Soldiers, police, and fire teams have been mobilized to assist in search and rescue efforts.

President Gustavo Petro mourned the incident and said relief teams were attending to the emergency.

"Solidarity with the families of the victims," Petro posted on Twitter.

The rainy season in Colombia has lasted practically all year long, the country's worst in 40 years, according to the government.