2024-01-13 05:00:00
Three large landslides keep the road between Quibdó and Medellín closed. One of them would have crushed a house where around 50 people were waiting for the road to reopen and they would have been trapped by the material.
(See also: Shocking images of the tragedy caused by landslides on the Quibdó-Medellín highway).
Inhabitants of the area say that the largest emergency is recorded in the area known as Toldas, at kilometer 17 between the capital of Paisa and the capital of the department of Chocó.
Nubia Córdoba, governor of Chocó, confirmed to EL TIEMPO that there are multiple injuries and is waiting for an official figure from the National Army, which is already in the area.
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The difficulty in reaching this sector due to climatic complications has made the work of relief agencies impossible, as well as the low mobile phone signal has made it impossible to officially confirm the number of deaths.
For now, according to the most recent report from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), 18 people died and 35 more were injured, of which 25 were transferred to the Carmen hospital.
In fact, the names of six of the people who are being treated at the El Carmen de Atrato healthcare center were known:
1. Eduardo Paz Cautín
2. Claudia Murillo
3. Yuliana Quintero M
4. Claudia Murillo
5. Danny Gisel Palacios Chala
6. Deiber Andrés Rodríguez Chala Given the magnitude of the emergency, the governor decreed a public calamity.
From the XV Brigade of the Army they reported that they are trying to reach the area to be able to help the relief agencies, however, the situation of the road has made it impossible for troops to reach the site of the emergency, which is located two hours from Quibdó. .
In addition, it was confirmed that the Army will send 30 rescue soldiers to attend to the emergency, along with canine pairs and drones.
#The last I 30 rescue soldiers @Ingenieros_EJC They are in preparation to attend to the emergency presented in the department of the #Chocothrough their differential capabilities with canine pairs, drones, are available to support the affected community.… pic.twitter.com/SvSqMzVOhO
— National Army of Colombia (@COL_EJERCITO) January 13, 2024
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For its part, the Government also confirmed that helicopter rescue units from Bogotá and Medellín, ambulances from the department of Antioquia, and yellow machinery are being mobilized to reopen the road at the different points of landslides and allow the transfer of wounded and deceased to Quibdó.
From the mayor’s office of Carmen de Atrato they also reported that they were made aware of the emergency and requested support from the Vice President of the Republic, Francia Márquez.
Landslide on the road between Quibdó and Medellín.
Photo:
Courtesy: Publinoticias El Carmen de Atrato, Chocó and Southwest Antioquia
“We communicate with the vice president of the Republic and the governor; we are doing everything possible to reach the critical point to be able to know the reality of what is happening,” said Jaime Arturo Herrera Maya, mayor of El Carmen de Atrato, the municipality where the the emergency.
Márquez spoke out on his own behalf of a landslide that has left dozens of people and vehicles trapped in the area.
We have been notified of an emergency on the Quibdó – Medellín road, at kilometer 17 of the municipality of Carmen del Atrato, Chocó, due to a landslide that has left dozens of people and vehicles trapped in the area. Preliminary reports indicate…
— Francia Márquez Mina (@FranciaMarquezM) January 13, 2024
For his part, President Gustavo Petro reacted in the last few hours and assured, through his X account, that he will have “all the help available” for the department in the face of “this horrible tragedy.”
Meanwhile, the director (e) of the UNGRD, Víctor Meza, announced that the national authorities had a Uh60 helicopter that will soon fly over the municipality of El Carmen de Atrato to support the search for the trapped people.
Given the magnitude of the emergency in the Medellín-Quibdó corridor, the National Highway Institute (Invías) announced that it had all its technical and operational capacity, through the current work contract, to respond to the situation.
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“Regional authorities such as the Government of Chocó, Invías, the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management and the National Army are leading the Unified Command Post to monitor the situation and take the necessary measures in time. real,” the institute reported in a statement
Finally, the authorities made the decision to temporarily close the Quibdó-Medellín highway while the debris is removed, the risk area is stabilized and safe transit on the highway is guaranteed. Therefore, drivers are asked to avoid traffic in the area.
MEDELLÍN
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