At least five people are dead and 25 others missing after two mudslides tore through western Colombia. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue officials fear that the majority of people missing were probably buried alive. The slides were triggered after weeks of torrential rains, which have also caused extensive flooding in the region. Argelia, a city of 8,000, is in the same coffee-growing region that was struck by a devastating earthquake on January 25 which killed at least 1,170 people. 3000 left homeless.
Meteorologists expect the heavy rains to continue for two more months.
Meteorologists warn that the region is likely to experience several fierce rainstorms this month. The drought follows on the heels of a major flood catastrophe six months ago that claimed more than 4,000 lives. Torrential rains triggered the slide. More than 40 people have died in the past few months from landslides in Bali's mountainous interior. The inundations have been caused by more than three months of heavy rains with the northern towns of Vilankulu and Inhassoro being the worst hit.