Three Missing in Cuevas del Almanzora Landslide
A landslide in the early hours of today has left three people trapped in their ‘cave dwelling’ in Cuevas del Almanzora (Almeria).
Heavy lifting gear has been brought to the scene from nearby Garrucha, to remove the huge boulders and debris that came down and covered the entrance to the house containing a father and his two young sons in the neighborhood of Realengo in the famous ‘cave town.’
JCB’s and a crane are trying to remove the debris, but they are being hindered by the discovery of further cracks in the ground above the dwellings, making the work extremely dangerous.
Civil protection units from five municipalities, the Fire Service along with a specialist Guardia Civil unit, who employ tracker dogs for use in earthquakes, are at the scene and involved in the rescue attempt.
The landslide occurred at around 05.20 this morning, with around 15 to 20 meters of land above the cave entrances giving way. There were also three wounded people with varying degrees of fractures, who were taken to the regional hospital in Huércal-Overa. Other cave dwellings have been evacuated until the area is made safe.
Local mayor Jesús Caicedo has been on the scene throughout and is asking for calm from the local citizens, to allow the emergency services to get on with their job. He says hopes are high that the survivors will be found alive.
The landslide was probably due to the ground above the dwellings being clay based.
Any updates about the condition of this survivors will be posted as soon we have any further news.
(News: Cuevas del Almanzora, Almeria, Andalucia)
