At least 12 people have been injured, and several children are reported missing following a dam burst early Friday in the rural Micay Canyon area of Cauca, southwest Colombia, according to the Colombian Civil Defense.

Major Juan Carlos Sandoval, director of Civil Defense in Cauca, stated that a "mass movement" caused the damming of the Aguas Claritas stream. The subsequent surge of water swept away homes in the area, leaving devastation in its wake.

Search and rescue operations have faced significant challenges due to landslides blocking access roads to the mountainous region in El Tambo municipality. Among the injured is the father of the missing children, Civil Defense reported.

Carlos Carrillo, director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, announced plans to establish a Unified Command Post in Popayan to coordinate rescue efforts. He emphasized prioritizing the safety of vulnerable populations as heavy rains continue to exacerbate the situation.