Injured by the accident of a chiva in Salgar, Antioquia increased to 33

On the morning of April 10, a goat that was circulating in the Los Andes village of the municipality of Salgar, Antioquia, turned over when crossing a bridge. The ladder-type bus fell into a ravine and 25 injuries were initially reported; however, hours later the number increased to 33 people injured, one dead and one missing.

According to the authorities, the chiva carried more than two dozen passengers, who were assisted by inhabitants of the area. According to the Municipal Council for Risk Management in Salgar, the accident occurred on the bridge known as Los Urán, and fell into the Barroso River.

The mayor of Salgar, Carlos Andrés Londoño Vélez, reported that 34 people were rescued in the incident; of these, 27 are in a local hospital and six were referred to other Aburrá healthcare centers in southwestern Antioquia. One of the injured had complications and while being treated, died at San José Hospital.

The deputy scientific director of that care center, Gabriela María Mora Zapata, revealed to La FM that of the patients in the hospital, six are minors. Children have trauma to the abdomen, chest, craniocerebral, rib fractures, and upper and lower limbs.

Details of the incident

The road on which the bus was traveling, apparently heading to the town of Salgar, is an unpaved and narrow road. So far, the reasons that caused the accident are unknown, but as can be seen in the images released by the inhabitants, the goat rolled on one side of the road, lost its rear suspension and ended up tires on the tributary.

Although the ravine did not have a high level of water, it did have a high current. Initially, it was the inhabitants who attended to the victims of the accident, and relief systems such as the Salgar fire brigade were activated, as well as those in nearby municipalities of Jardín, Concordia, Andes and Ciudad Bolívar. The various relief agencies continue to carry out the search work, since one person is still missing.

The rains in Antioquia

The main emergencies of recent days in Antioquia have responded to the rainy season. An example of these is the growth of tributaries and slope movements, which generated an avalanche in the municipality of Abriaquí leaving 13 dead and one person missing on April 8.

The Administrative Department of Risk Management of Antioquia (Dagran) explained that the victims were workers at the El Porvenir mine; however, the emergency was in the casino, where they were sheltering from the rain and were collecting their food to start the break.

“According to the report of the Unified Command Post installed after emergency in Abriaqui, the number of deaths on torrential avenue rises to 13. Operating entities continue with the search and rescue of the missing person. We are still present in the area and vigilant,” said the Dagran.

In the municipality of Uramita, the Municipal Council for Risk Management reported a sudden increase in the Sucio River that caused undermining, causing the collapse of 14 homes and several flooded this April 8, while attending the other emergency.

The same happened in Abejorral, where mass movements occurred and it was necessary to evacuate two houses due to the risk of collapse. Although there were no fatalities in these events, families were affected. The same happens on the road that leads from Pasto to Tumaco, where a landslide occurred in the Carrizal sector, which has almost 5 municipalities disconnected.

The relief and risk management authorities have warned of the predicted increase in rainfall in the coming days of Easter, which has already affected several municipalities, to be alert to possible emergencies.

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