Winter emergency in Colombia has affected 25 departments

Colombia is experiencing a serious moment due to the phenomenon of La Niña, which does not give up, added to tropical storms and hurricanes, which have affected at least 25 departments.

In September, the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam) had confirmed that the country would be under the effects of the La Niña phenomenon until 2021. From that moment on, the rains and the problems of landslides and floods that have affected roads and the civilian population began.

In November, with the arrival of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Caribbean, alarms were raised in the country. It was the arrival of Hurricane Iota that has shown the worst face of the winter disaster, especially in the archipelagos of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina; also affecting departments such as Antioquia, Chocó and Atlántico.

Cundinamarca, Santander, Norte de Santander, Tolima, Huila, Arauca and Casanare are regions that suffer the ravages of the climatic conditions that occur in the country.

In Antioquia, the winter wave has wreaked havoc of such magnitude that, during this weekend five, people died after the collapse in the municipality of Dabeiba; not counting the 20 injured and the five missing, according to the Antioquia Disaster Prevention, Attention and Recovery System (Dapard).

Another seriously affected municipality was Urrao, where the overflowing of the Penderisco River caused floods that affected the residents. In addition, there was another, a collapse at kilometer 14 of the Uramita-Dabeiba highway that interrupted the traffic between Medellín and Urabá.

The department is on an orange and red alert for possible landslides. Dabeiba and Ebéjico are the municipalities that are on the highest alert.

In the department of Chocó at least 15 municipalities have been affected by floods and landslides. Last weekend the first death from the winter wave occurred. A minor under 14 years old died in the middle of a landslide in the municipality of Carmen de Atrato.

15 municipalities in the department were affected by floods and landslides during the holiday weekend that just passed.

The Ombudsman’s Office issued warning signals in eight municipalities of the department and according to Rafael Bolaños, coordinator of Risk Management of Chocó, at least 40,000 people were affected

This landslide also caused the blockage of the road that connects Quibdó with Antioquia. These events left 40,000 people affected, according to data provided by Bolaños.

Grass: There is a 40% probability that there will be a new hurricane in the Caribbean

The municipalities of Bahía Solano, El Cantón de San Pablo and Medio San Juan are currently on red alert for landslides. In addition, 22 municipalities are on orange alert for the same problem, says Ideam.

This same institution ensures that there is an orange alert for possible sudden floods in the Atrato, Salaquí and Cacarica rivers.

Ariel Palacios, governor of Chocó, assured that the Boraudo district will be relocated due to the constant flooding it suffers.

On the Caribbean Coast, the passage of hurricane Iota has left floods in Cartagena and impacts such as landslides. The mayor of the capital of Bolívar, William Dau, hopes to provide 5,000 aid to the people who were affected. Cartagena went into hospital alert after the hurricane.

The department of Córdoba has not been the exception. In the municipality of Moñitos, high tide could take away a school and some homes in this area.

In La Guajira there is concern in the upper area of ​​the department, since it is completely flooded and there is a shortage of food.

In Magdalena, some sectors of Santa Marta have been affected by the hurricane; In addition, 25 municipalities are on red alert due to the floods last week. Another affected department is Sucre, where the residents of Bocacerrada have been living with water in their homes for more than 15 days.

The department of Atlántico also suffered damages during the weekend, although to a lesser extent.

In Los Santanderes, the landslides caused by the rains have cut off several municipalities, such as Carcasí and Macaravita, where the roads were unusable.

The Catatumbo areas are on red alert due to the overflow of the Tibú and Sardinata rivers.

I could be interested

Iván Duque confirms the destruction of Providencia after the passage of Iota

How to access humanitarian aid for the rainy season