In Colombia, devastating flooding and mudslides kill at least 52


At least 52 people in Colombia were killed early Monday when heavy rains triggered flash floods and mudslides in the town of Salgar.
Several people sustained injuries, and an unknown number of people are missing. Survivors said they heard rumbling in the middle of the night, and homes and bridges began to fall into the Libordiana ravine. "It was rocks and tree trunks everywhere," resident Diego Agudelo told The Associated Press. "The river took out everything in its path." The flooding destroyed the town's aqueduct, and electricity has been cut off because several utility poles were knocked over.
President Juan Manuel Santos came to the town of 18,000 to oversee relief efforts, and said the government will help the 500 people affected by the flooding and mudslides rebuild their homes. "Nobody can bring back the dead," he said. "But we have to handle this disaster as best we can to move forward."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Can Gaza momentum help end the war in Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles hints at ‘warming relations’ between Ukraine and US
-
The Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being released
The Explainer Triumphant Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament as families on both sides of the Gaza war reunite with their loved ones
-
A magical underwater world at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
The Week Recommends Watch the colourful marine life while you dine or from the comfort of your bed at this seriously swanky resort
-
Icarus programme – the ‘internet of animals’
The Explainer Researchers aim to monitor 100,000 animals worldwide with GPS trackers, using data to understand climate change and help predict disasters and pandemics
-
Renewables top coal as Trump seeks reversal
Speed Read For the first time, renewable energy sources generated more power than coal, said a new report
-
China vows first emissions cut, sidelining US
Speed Read The US, the world’s No. 2 emitter, did not attend the New York summit
-
At least 800 dead in Afghanistan earthquake
speed read A magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit a mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan
-
Massive earthquake sends tsunami across Pacific
Speed Read Hundreds of thousands of people in Japan and Hawaii were told to evacuate to higher ground
-
FEMA Urban Search and Rescue chief resigns
Speed Read Ken Pagurek has left the organization, citing 'chaos'
-
Wildfires destroy historic Grand Canyon lodge
Speed Read Dozens of structures on the North Rim have succumbed to the Dragon Bravo Fire
-
Why are flash floods in Texas so deadly?
Today's Big Question Over 100 people, including 27 girls at a summer camp, died in recent flooding