MEDELLÍN — The death toll from a devastating landslide triggered by heavy rainfall in Colombia’s Antioquia department has climbed to 22 as of Friday, with eight people still unaccounted for, according to a statement from the governor’s office.

Authorities reported that new bodies were discovered in the Bello and Altos de Oriente neighborhoods of Medellín, which were among the hardest hit by the June 24 disaster.

Search and rescue operations remain underway, with 391 personnel deployed to the affected areas.

Emergency teams are working tirelessly to locate those still buried beneath the debris, the statement said.

The Antioquia governor’s office also warned that many homes constructed on unstable, sloped terrain in the region are highly vulnerable to future landslides, classifying the structures as high-risk.

Since March, intense rainfall has led to significant loss of life and property across several Colombian regions, compounding the strain on disaster response teams and infrastructure.

Officials urged residents in landslide-prone zones to heed evacuation orders and safety guidelines as adverse weather conditions continue. — Agencies