A State of Emergency in Colombia

Conditions still bad in Colombia.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Tuesday declared a state of emergency for 30 days to cope with the worst downpours in decades.

"We've decided to declare an economic, social and environmental state of emergency in the disaster area for 30 days, and probably will be extended up to 90 days," said the president after a visit to the disaster area.

Santos expressed his sorrow over the 30 deaths caused by a landslide in Bello, Antioquia, in the country's northeast.

During his visit to the scene on Tuesday, Santos expressed his regret over the loss of lives among La Gabriela district residents. Authorities estimate that at least 100 people were buried by the massive landslide on Sunday.

The president urged the regional governors to evacuate the areas considered high-risk due to the intense rains that have hit the country.

"The priority of all our actions here and in the whole country is to save lives and lighten the suffering of the people, then we will think about how to repair the damages," he said.

Meanwhile, Disasters and Emergencies Coordinator of the Social Protection Ministry Luis Fernando Correa told media that "this event was considered a catastrophe of natural origin."

Correa also said that the affected families would each receive 10 million Colombian pesos (about 5,000 U.S. dollars), since the region was considered a disaster zone.

Moreover, Correa said that the injured will get a subsidy "to give them aid, for transportation, emergency medical service, hospitalization, medicines and rehabilitation."

Flooding and landslides triggered by heavy downpours this year have left 206 people dead and 1.5 million homeless in 28 of the 32 provinces in the South American country.

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