Thirteen people were killed across Colombia this week as rare torrential rain triggered landslides and intensified flooding
Torrential rain not normally seen at this time of year left at least 13 people dead across Colombia this week, according to officials. The country has experienced a surge in rainfall after a cold front pushed south from the north of the Americas towards Colombia’s Caribbean coastline.
The national weather agency Ideam reported that rainfall last month rose by 64 per cent compared to the historical average. The sharp increase has been attributed to the movement of the cold front across the region, bringing heavier and more persistent rain.
Landslide in Narino adds to the death toll
Among the 13 fatalities, seven people were killed on Friday night in the southwest Narino department when a rain-swollen stream overflowed, triggering a landslide that buried several houses in mud. Local authorities released footage showing earth-moving machinery clearing debris as rescue workers and sniffer dogs searched for bodies.
Before the Narino landslide, the disaster management agency UNGRD confirmed on Thursday that six people had already died in weather-related incidents around the country.
Officials noted that climate change is disrupting Colombia’s traditional wet and dry periods. The country’s tropical climate, which typically has no distinct seasons, is becoming increasingly unpredictable, amplifying the effects of unusual weather events.
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