Colombia landslide kills at least 64, official says
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Colombia landslide kills at least 64, official says
At least 64 people have been killed in a flood and mudslide triggered by heavy rains in western Colombia.
An avalanche of debris and mud sent bridges and homes plunging into the steep Libordiana ravine in the town of Salgar at 3am local time.
Residents described being woken up by a loud rumble and neighbours' shouts of, "The river! The river!"
Resident Diego Agudelo, who has lived next to the ravine for 34 years, said: "There were rocks and tree trunks everywhere. The river took out everything that was in its path."
Another resident Jorge Quintero said: "When I felt my house shaking we got out, my family, we got out and when we got out, well, we were stuck in the middle of the landslide, it was coming from both sides and we were in the middle.
"It swept away a house on this side and we were there in the middle, terrified.
Police helicopters are being used to evacuate residents from the area for fear of another mudslide.
President Juan Manuel Santos is overseeing relief operations in Salgar.
Mr Santos said several children appear to have lost their parents and the bodies are being transported to Medellin, about 60 miles (100 km) away, to be identified.
"Nobody can bring back the dead ... but we have to handle this disaster as best we can to move forward," he said.
General Jose Angel Mendoza, the head police officer in the area, told a radio station that the death toll is likely to rise as many people are still unaccounted for.
The flooding also destroyed the town's aqueduct and knocked out electricity and other public services.
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