Death toll in Colombia flooding tragedy increases

By Lokman Ilhan

MOCOA, Colombia (AA) - The death toll from a flooding disaster in southern Colombia has increased to 273, the country’s president said Tuesday.

Juan Manuel Santos told reporters 193 out of the 273 victims had been identified. One hundred of these had already been delivered to their families for burial.

Treatment of nearly 262 people injured was continuing amid recovery efforts at schools and other damaged buildings in the city of Mocoa, located in the department of Putumayo.

Search-and-rescue efforts are continuing, Santos added but said no new flooding was expected.

Last Saturday, three rivers near the city of 45,000 people burst their banks amid torrential rain, creating an avalanche of water and mud that hit all its 17 districts.

The disaster has affected more than 500 families in the area, leveling dozens of homes, according to the Colombian Red Cross.

In the early hours of Sunday, the military were able to restore partial land access on the highway to Mocoa.