Colombian Mudslide Kills 49 People

A roaring avalanche of mud and debris hit the Colombian town in the middle of the night when most people were fast asleep.

At least 49 people have been killed in a flood and mudslide triggered by heavy rains in western Colombia.

An avalanche of debris and mud sent bridges and homes plunging into the steep Libordiana ravine in the town of Salgar at 3am local time.
Residents described being woken up by a loud rumble and neighbours' shouts of, "The river! The river!"
Resident Diego Agudelo, who has lived next to the ravine for 34 years, said: "There were rocks and tree trunks everywhere. The river took out everything that was in its path."
Another resident Jorge Quintero said: "When I felt my house shaking we got out, my family, we got out and when we got out, well, we were stuck in the middle of the landslide, it was coming from both sides and we were in the middle.
"It swept away a house on this side and we were there in the middle, terrifiedThe flooding also destroyed the town's aqueduct and knocked out electricity and other public services.
Authorities are calling on volunteers to send water, food supplies and blankets to stem what they described as humanitarian emergency.
Salgar, a town of around 18,000 people, lies amid one of Colombia's major coffee-growing regions.