“He told me 'stay away that you can't do anything for me': survivors narrated the distressing moments of the avalanche in Abriaquí

After the emergency caused by an avalanche in the La Mina ravine, in the village of La Antigua, a rural area located in the municipality of Abriaquí in Antioquia, which left 12 people dead and 11 more injured, some of the survivors recounted the minutes of distress they passed.

The events took place around 8:00 in the evening of April 6 due to the heavy rains that have occurred in the region. The increase in flows led to the overflow of the La Mina ravine, which destroyed the first level of the El Porvenir mine camp.

Hernán Darío Carvajal, one of the surviving miners, told Blu Radio that the emergency arose when he and his colleagues finished eating after their working day. According to his testimony, the events took place so quickly that, in his words, within minutes the avalanche swept the place.

Carvajal added that, although he managed to warn some of the workers who were with him about the torrential avenue, not all his colleagues listened to him and, while he sought refuge, those who stayed behind lost their lives.

You can also read: They identify 11 of the 12 victims of the avalanche in Abriaqui, Antioquia

In the midst of tears, the 42-year-old miner added in dialogue with RCN Radio that, although he managed to survive, he experienced moments of anguish that led him to be on the verge of death, as he said that the moment he was trying to flee into a ravine to get out of the avalanche, two wooden sticks imprisoned his neck and dragged him with the current.

“They took two sticks from me and they embraced my neck and I asked my God to help me burst them and one of them burst. And then I pulled the back of my neck or else, I wouldn't be counting it. Then a roof hit me, but I managed to get out,” Carvajal explained to the same media outlet.

During his escape from the avalanche, the 42-year-old managed to rescue one of his companions from the mine who had also been trapped in the torrential avenue. Paola Caro told Noticias RCN that, out of three women who worked there, only she managed to survive, a situation she described as a “miracle”.

However, the fate was not the same for everyone. In an interview with Noticias Caracol, Hernán Darío told in tears and sadness that, during the emergency, he ran into one of his companions who had been trapped under some rubble. Although he did everything possible to rescue him, he failed to save him.

According to his testimony, his companion had wooden sticks in his stomach that imprisoned him, in addition, with lumps of debris that prevented him from leaving. Although he tried to help him by all means, his work colleague finally told him: “Hernán, you already did what you did for me.”

The Administrative Department of Risk Management of Antioquia (Dagran) reported that, so far, only 11 of the 12 deceased persons have been identified. It is expected that in the next few hours the relief agencies will be able to continue the search work that had to be suspended on the night of this Thursday, April 7, due to weather conditions.

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