Mocoa hit by devastating mudslide - Survivors share their terrifying tales

'In this moment, it's chaos.'

A lethal mudslide hit Colombia Sunday morning, devastating much of a southern city.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The massive slide was caused by heavy rains, which have been weeping steadily all weekend,  overflowing three rivers surrounding Mocoa.

The water levels rose and soon a torrent of mud and debris swept through the sleeping city.

According to NBC, 29-year-old Eduardo Vargas was asleep with his wife and their 7-month-old baby when neighbors began banging on his door.

They alerted him to the dangers and he grabbed his wife and child to join the people fleeing for their lives on the streets.

"There was no time for anything," he explained.

Vargas and his family joined other families atop a small mountain among rocks, trees and debris torn from their neighborhood. They huddled together until day broke, when the military was able to send out search parties and help.

After the rushing waters stilled, Vargas returned to his home, where absolutely nothing remained - but he was still grateful.

"Thank God we have our lives," he stated.

President Juan Manuel Santos declared a state of emergency the day before disaster struck. Rain waters were pouring in at higher-than-normal rates but several citizens were still caught unaware.

The Red Cross reported 203 people were injured and it estimated 178 were missing.

Oscar Londono, who avoided the mudslide, reported his in-laws' home is along one of the flooded rivers. He attempted to reach them throughout the night and decided to walk to their home when the sun rose.

As he attempted to make his way, he realized the streets he usually took were gone. Looking around for a landmark indicating he was on the right track, Londono saw a young woman dressed in a mini-skirt and black blouse.

He rushed to her side and checked for a pulse but there was none.

"There were bodies all over," he reported."

His fears renewed for his parents-in-law, Lonodo resumed his walk but when he came to their neighborhood, he found "just mud and rocks."

Rescue workers with the military offered hope and told him how many survivors had camped on a nearby mountain. Daring to accept the offer of hope, he made his way to the mountain, where he discovered his relatives among other survivors.

"To know they were alive," he stated, "it was a reunion of tears."

Not all families were as lucky.

President Santos made a second trip to Mocoa to report 43 children were among the dead and 22 others were hospitalized.

He reported there will likely be a rise in the death toll and admitted, "We don't know how many [fatalities] there are going to be. We're still looking."

In an address, the president explained 10 mobile water tanks were in place with 16 more on their way to Mocoa, along with water purification systems.

He announced a local hospital was operating again and extra medical supplies were flown in.

Over 600 people were forced to stay in emergency housing, and to them the president stated: "To those who lost their homes, we will build new ones in a safer place. In the meantime, we will give them a monthly rent stipend of 87 dollars. And I have asked the housing minister to begin this initiative today."

The President continued, explaining 22 people were seriously injured and had to be airlifted to nearby cities.

"To all [victims], we send our prayers. We send our condolences to their families, condolences from the entire country," President Santos stated.

Save the Children reported at least 70 children were separated from their parents, but the organization was working to coordinate hygiene kids and temporary homes for those children.

"This is obviously a highly shocking and chaotic situation for the population in the most vulnerable situation, especially pregnant women, children and adolescents," Paria Paula Martinez, the group's executive director, stated in a call for support.

Over 1,000 soldiers and national police officers are working to rescue those who were stranded but they report there have been several hurdles.

"The difficulties we are facing are that it is still raining in the region and the [mudslide] turned up a considerable amount of land," a police spokesman announced. "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."

Several images released by Colombia's military revealed rescuers carrying elderly women and children over fallen trees, destroyed homes and scattered debris.

"In this moment, it's chaos," Oscar Forero, a spokesman with the Colombian Red Cross, stated. "There are many missing people."

Even as survivors were helped from the mud, Herman Granados, an anesthesiologist, knew there wouldn't be enough aid to help them all.

Granados worked through the night on victims to clean their wounds and knows firsthand the hospital doesn't have a large enough blood bank to help those who needed it.

Some hospital workers came to help those in need, despite many of them worrying over missing family members. They continued to save who they could and provide aid to all in need, regardless of their personal situations.

Medical workers continue to help all they encounter to the best of their ability, though the death toll continues to rise.

Even as the bodies pile up, Granados admitted the grim truth, "Under the mud, I am sure there are many more."

President Santos blamed climate change for the mudslide. The rainy season for Colombia is only just beginning, so the President stated local and national authorities need to redouble their efforts to prevent another massive tragedy.

All power and water supplies to Mocoa were cut by the disaster and, for a time, the local hospital system was shut down, but the city is slowly getting back on its feet and has already started the cleanup.

---

The California Network is the Next Wave in delivery of information and entertainment on pop culture, social trends, lifestyle, entertainment, news, politics and economics. We are hyper-focused on one audience, YOU, the connected generation. JOIN US AS WE REDEFINE AND REVOLUTIONIZE THE EVER-CHANGING MEDIA LANDSCAPE.