Colombia mudslides death toll climbs to over 250

There are no more people officially missing after mudslides in Colombia killed at least 254, the country's president said Sunday. Torrential rains Friday night caused three rivers surrounding the southern city of Mocoa to overflow -- sending a torrent of mud and debris surging through the city. President Juan Manuel Santos said 170 victims had been identified. He said 43 children were among the dead and 22 more had been hospitalized. A further 203 people were injured, many severely.
"To all [victims], we send our prayers. We send our condolences to their families, condolences from the entire country," Santos said in an address earlier.
Concerned by the increasingly heavy rainstorms Friday, Simon Uribe and his family shifted from their first-floor riverside apartment to the level above.
The river broke its banks 50 meters up the street, splitting and leaving their home effectively surrounded by two strong currents. The electricity cut out.
"At some point, most of the city was (covered) with water. No power but you can see rivers in every street," Uribe told CNN.

"I watched people -- some girls coming down the river -- some bodies coming by the water. It was terrible. It was pretty shocking," he said.
Uribe and his family -- including his 10-month-old son -- escaped to higher ground. The next morning, Uribe found several feet of muddy water where his home had been.
"There was basically no house left," Uribe said. "It was shocking."
More than 1,000 soldiers and national police officers are involved in the rescue effort, and they are facing enormous challenges.
"The difficulties we are facing are that it is still raining in the region and the (mudslide) turned up a considerable amount of land. There are mobility issues on almost 80% of the roads, and where the road ends, it is three hours to the place where the (mudslide) took place," a police spokesman told reporters.
Photos released by Colombia's military showed rescuers carrying old women and children over downed, mud-caked trees and homes.

Source: CNN