The Colombian president ordered the air force to supply towns cut off by the avalanches [AFP]

Fabio Valencia, the interior minister, said the eruption of Mount Huila, Colombia's highest active volcano, late on Thursday, triggered two avalanches of snow, mud and ash that affected area settlements, Valencia said.

"We sadly have a report of 10 people killed, and since we have not been able to reach some places we have been unable to determine if there are more" casualties, he told reporters in Bogota on Saturday.

Guillermo Alberto Gonzalez, the Cauca state governor, said four of the dead were found on Saturday when rescuers reached an area about 285km southwest of Bogota.

Nine people were also injured after bridges were destroyed and people became trapped in their towns.

One rescuer tells the radio that food supplies are dwindling in one town.

Alvaro Uribe, the Colombian president, surveyed the damage on Friday and ordered the air force to supply towns cut off by the avalanches.

Recommend this article...

Did you enjoy this article? Please bookmark it onto: