Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos visited the scene of a fatal landslide in the Santander department and promised 486 new houses for those left homeless.
During a visit to the San Vicente de Chucuri village in the northeast Colombian department, Santos promised to provide new housing for the more than 600 people left without shelter after a mudslide washed away houses and bridges and killed eight people last Wednesday, with three people still missing.
Santos said that a 12-acre plot of land belonging to the Ministry of Defense will be donated as the site for the houses to be constructed. In addition, the victims are to receive humanitarian aid and a housing subsidy of $164 a month for the next 12 months.
While in San Vicente, the president flew over the devastated areas and met with regional officials. He requested that local authorities create early warning systems so that people, especially those who live near riverbanks, can be evacuated, as many areas in the country are at high risk.
