Turkish agency helps flood-hit Colombia

BOGOTA

As the death toll from devastating flood and mudslide in southern Colombia rises to 314, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has sent aid packages to the affected region on Saturday.

TIKA’s Bogota Coordinator Mehmet Ozkan said 200 aid packages sent to southern city of Mocoa included urgent needs such as cleaning materials and medical equipment, antibiotics and painkillers.

"We are also sending armchairs, walkers and solar flashlights to the area," he said.

According to Colombia disaster and emergency management (UNGRD), death toll after last week's flooding disaster rose to 314.

Heavy rainfall since last Saturday has wiped many neighborhoods off the map in Mocoa, home to 45,000 people.

Almost 102 of the victims were under 18 years old and 106 people were still missing, UNGRD said in a statement on Saturday.

Reporting by Lokman Ilhan; Writing by Sibel Ugurlu