At least 78 people have died after a landslide hit the village of La Liboriana in Antioquia Province, Colombia on Monday 18 May 2015. The landslide, which was triggered by a flash flood, struck at about 3.00 am local time when most residents were sleeping, and swept a number of homes into the swollen Liboriana River. Between 50 and 80 people are still missing following the event, with rescuers searching a 40 km area of river beneath the village for bodies and survivors.
Debris in the village of La Liboriana following the 18 May 2015 landslide. EPA.
May is the height of the rainy season in Antioquia Province, with rainfall averaging around 200 mm for the month, though this is uneavenly distributed and often results in flash floods. Landslides
are a common problem after severe weather events, as excess pore water
pressure can overcome cohesion in soil and sediments, allowing them to
flow like liquids. Approximately 90% of all landslides are caused by
heavy rainfall.
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