At least three children have been killed by a landslide that buried a rural elementary school in northwestern Colombia, according to authorities.
Officials in Antioquia province said about 20 children of preschool and first-grade age were at recess, along with a teacher and the mother of one of the students, in the cafeteria of La Lejia school when the landslide hit on Thursday.
Most of them escaped unharmed, but three died and two youngsters who had to be dug out of the building were taken to hospital for treatment.
“We give very sad news: three children lost their lives in this event,” Carlos Osorio, the mayor of the nearby town of Andes, told the media, without specifying their ages.
“Fortunately, 17 students got out alive … the teacher and the mother also,” Osorio said, adding that the two hospitalised children were in a stable condition.
