At least 20 Colombians missing after mudslide

BOGOTA, Colombia - At least 20 Colombians were missing today after a landslide brought on by heavy rains swept over the village of Bendiciones in the country's south, officials said.

"Apparently there are about 20 or 30 people who have disappeared," said Julian Henao, the head of the disaster office of the Valle provincial government.

Television showed images of houses covered by yellow mud near overflowing river waters. A different Valle government official said Bendiciones had disappeared.

About 40 people have been killed and thousands left homeless by flash floods and mudslides so far in Colombia's wet season, which weather forecasters say will last until June.

- REUTERS