Landslide kills at least 17 in Colombia town, injures 5

CARACAS, Venezuela – Heavy rains unleashed a landslide in a remote mountain town in southwestern Colombia on Sunday, killing at least 17 people and injuring five more.

The National Disaster Risk Management agency said the early morning landslide hit at least eight homes and blocked a stretch of the Pan-American Highway in the community of Rosas, roughly 400 miles (630 kilometres) southwest of Bogota.

Officials said rescue workers were continuing their search for victims, removing earth and debris with heavy machinery.

President Iván Duque sent a tweet expressing “solidarity with families of victims.” He went to the area late Sunday to check on operations.

Officials said five people were taken to local hospitals for treatment.