Colombia mudslide deaths reach 29

Rescue work was hampered by rain, new mudslides and rebel attacks

Twenty-nine bodies have been recovered in Colombia after several villages were swept away by mudslides last week.

Officials in the south west say eight people, among them four soldiers, are still missing. About 1,000 people have seen their homes destroyed or damaged.

There was some good news on Sunday, as 19 people feared dead emerged unhurt after taking refuge in the hills.

Three of the 15 spots hit by mudslides in the area of Buenaventura may be declared cemeteries, officials say.

Clashes

The heavy rains started on Tuesday night and led to several rivers bursting their banks early on Wednesday.

Several villages were swept away by rivers of mud, as were parts of the main road to the Pacific coast about 350km (220 miles) south-west of the capital, Bogota.

Rescue efforts were hampered by the lack of access to the area, heavy rains, new mudslides and attacks by some of Colombia's armed factions.

The authorities said emergency workers had come under repeated attack by rebel fighters, said to be from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc).

Thousands of people have been left homeless by floods and mudslides in this year's wet season, which has also seen thousands of hectares of crops destroyed.

The rainy season began in March and is forecast to continue until June.