MOCOA, COLOMBIA - APRIL 03: Colombian soldiers carry out search and rescue operation on the damaged site at Mocoa after the flood in Putumayo of Colombia on April 03, 2017. At least 273 people lost their lives after three rivers in southern Colombia; Mocoa, Mulato and Sancoyaco burst their banks early Saturday, creating an avalanche of mud and rocks that has devastated the city of Mocoa. ( Lokman İlhan - Anadolu Agency )
MOCOA, Colombia
The death toll from a flooding disaster in southern Colombia has increased to 286, the government announced Tuesday.
President Juan Manuel Santos earlier told reporters 193 victims had been identified. One hundred of these had already been delivered to their families for burial.
Treatment of nearly 262 who were injured was continuing amid recovery efforts at schools and other damaged buildings in the city of Mocoa, located in the department of Putumayo.
Last Saturday, three rivers near the city of 45,000 people burst their banks amid torrential rain, creating an avalanche of water and mud that hit all its 17 districts.
Nearly 2,700 people who lost their homes were being housed in temporary shelters, according to Colombia's Medical Institute, operating under the health ministry.
Search-and-rescue efforts are continuing, Santos said, adding that no new flooding was expected.
Meanwhile, reports have emerged suggesting that the risk of destructive flooding in the heavily forested area due to its infrastructural weaknesses had been known to authorities since 2014.
The information has prompted Colombia's Attorney General to launch an investigation.
The flooding and mudslide have affected more than 500 families in the area, leveling numerous homes, according to the Colombian Red Cross.
In the early hours of Sunday, the military were able to restore partial land access on the highway to Mocoa.
