Colombian rescue teams continue searching rubble after 72‑hour survivor window passes

Rescue crews have continued to dig at the site of the landslide that struck the town of San Juan de Pasto in Colombia’s Nariño department, even after the critical 72‑hour period for locating survivors has elapsed. The slide, triggered by heavy rains on Monday, collapsed several homes and blocked a main road, prompting an immediate emergency response from local authorities, the National Police, and the Colombian Red Cross.

As of Thursday, officials reported that 28 people remain missing while 12 have been confirmed dead and 19 rescued, some with serious injuries. Teams from the National Army’s engineering battalion, equipped with excavators and canine units, are working around the clock, supported by volunteers and medical personnel stationed at a temporary field hospital. Governor John Pablo Vargas emphasized that the operation will persist until all victims are accounted for, noting that the challenging terrain and ongoing precipitation complicate the effort. The continued search underscores the authorities’ commitment to exhaustive recovery despite diminishing odds of finding additional survivors.