A mudslide that killed hundreds of people in Colombia this weekend may portend more destruction to come if the El Niño conditions impacting the coastal regions nearby get worse.

Many in the small town of Mocoa were sleeping and did not have time to evacuate to higher ground, and were swept away by an enormous mudslide after heavy rains caused a nearby river to overflow. The surge of mud killed and injured hundreds and destroyed many homes.

At least 234 died, and 220 were missing in the city of about 350,000. Hospitals struggled to cope with the burden of so many injuries, and some with more serious wounds had to be airlifted to other towns.

Houses in 17 different areas were