Astonishing moment 'figure of Jesus' appears above Colombian city wiped out by giant landslide that killed 17 people

An astonishing photograph has emerged showing what locals believe is the figure of Jesus appearing over a Colombian city ravaged by a landslide.

A crowd gathered to film the sunlight slanting through clouds in Manizales, in the north central Colombian region of Caldas, where 17 people were killed by landslides when a month's rainfall fell overnight last week.

The rare cloud phenomenon was recorded on a mountain called Sancancio and the glowing figure provided comfort to the residents who lost homes, loved ones and possessions in the natural disaster.

woman identified as Marya de Iesus recorded what was described as a religious experience and shared it online, where many said it was a sign of Jesus of Nazareth.

She wrote with a video: 'Jesus Christ was visiting our Colombian town, he calmed down the sky and was listened to.

'God blesses us and glory to Lord and Universe King.'

On the video seen by MailOnline, a man can be heard in the background saying: 'Oh, my God, my blessed God, come here to see the misery. 

'Look at this, look at this, blessing God. Glory to the Lord. 

'Do you see the Lord there, standing up?' 

At least 17 people were killed and seven are missing after a landslide sent mud and rocks crashing into several neighborhoods in Manizales, Colombia, the government said on Wednesday, the second deadly landslide in the country this month.

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The unusual light in the sky was witnessed by residents a week after the natural disaster

Recent heavy rains have endangered residents in dozens of provincial towns, where makeshift construction on the slopes of the Andes mountains makes neighborhoods particularly susceptible to avalanches and flooding.

The landslide in Manizales, capital of coffee-growing Caldas province west of Bogota, followed a similar disaster in Mocoa, Putumayo earlier this month that killed more than 320 people and displaced thousands from their homes.

'We are helping to find the disappeared and unfortunately the number will rise,' President Juan Manuel Santos said of the death toll after arriving in Manizales.

At least 57 houses have been affected, the government said. 

Local media reported that Manizales received a month's average rainfall just overnight.

Rescuers from the Red Cross, civil defense, firefighters and armed forces are searching for the disappeared in the mud and debris of destroyed buildings.

Running water, electricity and gas services have been suspended in the areas affected by the landslides.

Those reacting to the video online had mixed opinions on what was being seen. 

Sandra Mejia said: 'In this moment of pain, people want to believe it is a divine item that gives them hope and strength to keep on living and fighting.  

But others suggested a more straightforward theory could explain the beamed figure. 

Noe Bazan said a shaft of sunlight breaking through the clouds was the reason people saw Jesus.   

'This is a natural phenomenon with the light of the sun through different types of cloud,' he said. 

'It happens in all parts of the world.'