Landslides in Colombia
Friday, 06 Jun 2008 17:35
Colombia's rainy season has seen a number of serious and fatal landslides across western and central parts of the country and travellers should avoid going to the affected areas, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office warns.
Heavy rains since April have caused flooding and mudslides and last weekend 27 people were killed in a landslide in the city of Medellin, officials told the AFP news agency.
The FCO reports that the road between Bogota and Villavicencio, the area between Boyaca and Casanare, northern Tolima, Caldas, Antioquia and Norte de Santander have all been badly affected by mudslides.
An earthquake in the Meta department on May 24th also caused death and injury.
They also advise against all travel to the departments of Putumayo, Arauca, and Narino (excluding Pasto); to the towns of Buenaventura and San José del Guaviare and the areas surrounding them; and to the Parque Nacional Natural de La Macarena in the department of Meta.
Colombia's two rainy seasons run from April to June and mid-September to mid-December.