Colombia landslides leave trail of destruction
More than 200 people have been killed and dozens of homes have been destroyed by violent mudslides in southern Columbia.
Colombian town deluged by mud
A surge of mud and water slammed into the southwestern Colombian town of Mocoa late on Friday night. The army described how three nearby rivers burst their banks, causing a huge "avalanche" of mud that damaged roads and swept away people, cars and homes.
Roads turned to rivers
Several streets were turned into rivers of mud by the extreme weather, which followed several days of torrential rain. The muddy waters carried a torrent of debris through the town and residents said they had very little time to escape.
Surveying the damage
Locals described returning to the town at daybreak on Saturday and finding "bodies all over." Rescue teams continued to search for possible survivors over the weekend as more than 200 residents remained missing. Many streets were left in an unrecognizable state, filled with rocks, wooden planks and mud.
Colombian army called in to help
More than 1,100 soldiers and police officers were called in to help dig people out in 17 affected neighborhoods in the province of Putumayo. Mocoa was left without power or running water, and there were reports of people looting stores in search of bottled water.
Destruction of bridges leaves Mocoa cut off
Several deadly landslides have struck Colombia in recent months. But even so, the scale of the Mocoa disaster is likely to haunt residents for many years. The town's mayor said several neighborhoods and two bridges were destroyed.
Colombian president promises help
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos is due to pay a second visit to the disaster area on Sunday. "Here we are facing a disaster caused by nature, by climate change," he said earlier. He's already declared a state of emergency and pledged aid to those affected.
Town ruined, lives destroyed
The subsiding waters have left buildings and vehicles partly buried in the mud. Eduardo Vargas was among many local residents to return to Mocoa on Saturday, saying there is "nothing left. But thank God we have our lives."