Landslide at Colombia mine kills at least 27

MANIZALES, Colombia (CNN) -- At least 27 people are dead and 70 are missing after mudslides, apparently triggered by heavy rain, swept over an abandoned gold mine west of Bogota, Colombia, on Thursday, government officials said.

At least 20 people were injured, said Eduardo Jose Gonzalez, director of the Central National Agency for Disasters and Prevention.

Most of the victims were young males, added Gonzalez, who was traveling to the scene to supervise the rescue efforts.

The gold mine, about 250 to 300 km (150-185 miles) west of Bogota on the border of the states of Caldas and Risaralda, had been abandoned. But people living in the area would look for remnants of gold at the site, Gonzalez said.

The first mudslide occurred about 7 a.m. EST after heavy overnight rains and a second slide occurred at 8:30 a.m., Gonzalez said.

Rescue teams from Manizales responded to the scene.