Colombia mobilizes army in search for over three thousand missing

Colombia has deployed its army to intensify the search for more than three thousand individuals who remain missing following devastating rains and subsequent landslides. The disaster struck the town of Mocoa, the capital of the Putumayo department in southern Colombia, late on Friday night.

Torrential downpours triggered massive mudslides, sweeping away homes and infrastructure. Initial reports indicate that the death toll has surpassed 200, with hundreds more injured. Rescue operations are underway, but the scale of the devastation and the challenging terrain are hampering efforts to locate survivors and recover bodies.

President Juan Manuel Santos has declared a state of disaster and pledged government support for the affected region. International aid organizations are mobilizing resources, including medical supplies, food, and water, to assist the thousands displaced by the catastrophe. The focus remains on finding the missing and providing essential relief to those who have lost their homes and livelihoods.