About 6:26 in the morning, A rumble, accompanied by mud, trees and stones, stole the tranquility of the inhabitants of the La Esneda neighborhoods, in Dosquebradas, and of the inhabitants located on Avenida del Río, in Pereira. So far, that landslide has claimed the lives of 14 people and there are 30 more who are injured, some seriously.
Families, homes and businesses were destroyed and buried in the rubble. The stories heard amid the rush of relief agencies and the community helping to search for survivors or fatalities are shocking.
The heavy rains began at 5:00 pm on Monday and lasted for more than 12 hours. The only thing that made its sound remain in the background was the thunder of the rocks that hit the floor and the walls of the houses in the sector, as narrated by María Camila Restrepo, a resident of the sector.
The shocking images of the winter tragedy in Pereira, where a landslide fell on several houses and claimed the lives of 11 people, so far.
“When we least expected the house began to shake and we felt the smacks of the rocks, we went out to see what was happening, but we did not expect one of these things. When we saw the river was overflowing, houses were flooded, others were on the ground. People began to screaming for help and we managed to see how that came and covered other houses,” Restrepo told El Tiempo.
In front, buried, were the neighbors of all his life. “There was a store and bakery there, behind it was the owner of all that lot that had a garden, also dogs, cats and piscos. Also, a close-knit family that lost their grandfather, who was just turning 80 today” added the woman.
My niece was saved because she was awake, but the girl (her daughter) died because the wall of the house fell while she was still in bed
“Three uncles, cousins and nephews lived in that area. My niece was saved because she was awake, but the girl (her daughter) died, because the wall of the house fell while she was still in bed. That is very hard for one to have to see the family like this”, said one of the neighbors of the place.
One of her uncles also died of this woman, and she has four other relatives in the San Rafael de Pereira clinic.
Other families did not lose one of their members, but lost everything they had. That is the case of Pedro Lugo, who lived with his wife and his children in one of the houses on Avenida del Río and Calle 26.
The shocking images of the winter tragedy in Pereira, where a landslide fell on several houses and claimed the lives of 11 people, so far.
Of his business, a junkyard, he only has memories. “The collapse took everything where my business was, I was left with nothing, but thank God my family and I are alive,” she narrated.
Firefighters rescuing one of the people buried in the mud and debris.
Dosquebradas firefighters
Lugo pointed out that at 6:30 this morning everything was screaming and desolation. “When we went out to see what happened, people ran everywhere. I approached and managed to rescue several, but later the authorities arrived and we let them do their thing. It was very sad to see that we lost the neighbors of a lifetime” , said the man who has lived in this sector of the Risaraldense capital for more than 50 years.
A few blocks from the scene of the events, concern and sadness also abound. Two blocks down from the place lives Don José Quintero, who lost several members of his family.
“My son-in-law and brother died and my daughter is in the hospital in a very serious condition. When I went downstairs and saw all that destroyed, it was very hard. My son-in-law had a little store and my daughter was lying down because they get up very early to make arepas; she is delicate, but fine,” Quintero said.
For the moment, The authorities continue with the search and removal of debris and have said that they will take measures to relocate some families who were affected.. It should be noted that there were six completely buried houses, four on the Pereira side and two on the Dosquebradas side, however, there are more than 20 houses that were affected.
LAURA USMA CARDONA
Special for WEATHER in PEREIRA
On twitter: @Laurau_C
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