At least eighteen people died in two landslides that struck on Friday along a highway near Carmen de Atrato in Colombia’s Chocó region, located in the western part of the country. Officials reported that roughly thirty individuals were injured as the disaster unfolded on the road that connects Medellín, the regional capital of Antioquia, with Quibdó, the capital of Chocó. Eyewitness videos depict a convoy of vehicles halted on the roadway while awaiting the avalanche clearing, only to be overwhelmed as a massive landslide collapsed over the stalled cars and their occupants.
Local authorities identified the eighteen deceased, a figure confirmed by the mayor of Carmen de Atrato, who spoke to Noticias Caracol. He warned that the death toll could rise as rescue teams continue to sift through the debris and remove mountains of soil that buried the passengers. He also noted that the situation remained dynamic through the night, with ongoing efforts to account for missing individuals amid the heavy rains that precipitated the slide.
Meanwhile, Nubia Carolina Córdoba, governor of Chocó, described the incident as a serious emergency on the Quibdó–Medellín route in the area known as El 17. She did not provide precise casualty numbers but underscored the mission of recovering bodies and delivering immediate care to the injured as teams work through the affected stretch of road. The governor’s office emphasized the need for coordinated response and relief as responders press on with search and rescue operations in difficult terrain.
From official channels, messages of solidarity surfaced as authorities requested continued public patience during the rescue efforts. The ambassador to Washington, Luis Gilberto Murillo, a Chocó native, expressed condolences and stood in support of the victims and their families on social media, reiterating national sympathy during this painful moment for the country and its ministry. This sentiment echoed the broader national response,With the incident cast as an ongoing crisis that demands sustained relief measures and robust assistance for those impacted.
Earlier remarks from Vice President Francia Márquez described the event as having stranded dozens of people and vehicles in the area. Initial reports suggested that as many as five people had died and around thirty were injured, though officials cautioned that casualty figures were subject to change as the response matured and more information became available from the field. The discrepancy in numbers reflected the evolving nature of the emergency as authorities worked to verify casualties and coordinate medical care for the injured.
According to Dorado, head of La Cruz Operations, information from the Emergency Regulation Center indicated that in the Toldas area approximately fifty people sought shelter inside a house to escape the downpour. The landslide reportedly struck the structure directly overhead, underscoring the peril faced by residents who had taken temporary refuge from the rain and flood conditions. Responders continued to assess the scene, expand access routes, and deliver aid to those affected in a challenging mountainous landscape where landslides are a recurring risk during heavy rainfall seasons, highlighting the vulnerability of communities along this corridor.