Firefighters look for victims after a mudslide on the outskirts of El Choro, Bolivia, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019. According to police, at least five people died and others were injured after vehicles were dragged Saturday by a mudslide on a mountainous road in the north of La Paz. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Republished February 03, 2019 - 4:57 PM
Original Publication Date February 03, 2019 - 6:06 AM
EL CHORO, Bolivia - Authorities said Sunday that searchers had recovered 11 bodies from a landslide that buried cars on a highway in the mountains northeast of Bolivia's capital a day earlier. At least 18 other people were reported injured.
Officials also said new mudslides occurred in the same area as a result of a third day of heavy rains, though there was no immediate word of any casualties.
Tons of earth and mud collapsed on the mountain highway near a spot known as El Choro on Saturday. Public Works chief Oscar Coca said the bodies had been in two cars that were swept some 200 metres (650 feet) down a canyon.
Heavy rains had been falling for two days and the cars were in a line of vehicles making their way along a muddy patch of road when the mountainside gave way.
Police Gen. Romulo Delgado said the dead included six adults and five minors.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019