Bridge collapses due to heavy rains in Colombia's Meta region, 20 rescued

Heavy rainfall has led to the collapse of a section of the La Amistad bridge over the Ariari River, cutting off road access between the municipalities of El Dorado and El Castillo in Colombia's Meta department. The incident also caused a sudden rise in the river's water levels.

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The decision to raise the threat level means that the risk of an attack must be considered at all times in Germany.

Twenty people, comprising 14 adults and six minors, were stranded in a rural area of El Dorado due to the overflowing river. They were successfully rescued by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from the Colombian Aerospace Force during a nighttime operation. Rescuers provided immediate assistance before the group was handed over to medical personnel in El Dorado, where they are reported to be out of danger.

In response to the emergency, the governor of Meta, Rafaela Cortés, announced the activation of a Unified Command Post (PMU) involving relevant entities. The objective is to mobilize necessary resources to restore mobility as quickly as possible and assist affected families.

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When we look at the current situation and how it is developing, we can no longer speak of an abstract level of threat, but of a very high one.

The La Amistad bridge, which was inaugurated in December 2020, replaced an older structure from 1973. Its recent collapse has halted all vehicular traffic, significantly impacting the region, which is a key agricultural area for Meta, producing crops like plantains, cassava, citrus, pineapple, passion fruit, guava, corn, rice, oil palm, cocoa, and coffee.

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This is not a specific threat, but one that must be realized.