Landslides and overflowing rivers have killed more than 200 people in Colombia.

Landslides have killed more than 200 people after heavy rains caused rivers to overflow in a southwestern Colombian province.

The landslide occurred on the evening of March 31st due to heavy rains in Putumayo province, southern Colombia. 206 people died and 220 are missing, CNN reported on April 1st, citing Gabriel Umana, spokesman for the Colombian Red Cross. He said at least 202 people were injured and 300 families had to be evacuated. 25 houses were destroyed.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said it was impossible to predict the death toll. "Unfortunately, the death toll could rise because we have so many people missing," he said on local television channel Cable Noticias.

"We don't know where they are. Many people have come to us saying, 'My son is missing, my father is missing, my mother is missing.' We are compiling a list of all the missing people," he said.

The Colombian president has declared a state of emergency and ordered rescue and military forces to the town of Mocoa, Putumayo province, to respond to the disaster.

Location of the landslide in Colombia. Graphic: CNN

According to VNE