Damaged by the passage of hurricane ETA in San Andrés ask for help from the National Government

Heavy rains and strong winds they appeared in the last hours in the archipelago of San Andrés and Providencia because of Hurricane Eta.

The passage of the hurricane affected mainly Nicaragua, however, the blow caused damage in the Colombian archipelago, where they have been registered heavy rains, storm surges, strong winds, falling trees, flooding and damage to the structure of some homes and commercial establishments.

The effects of the tropical storm have been felt on the islands since Monday night, after it strengthened in the western Caribbean Sea and reached category 4.

According to the Colombian Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam), the center of the cyclone made landfall in Central America, with winds that reached approximately 220 km / h.

Likewise, the authorities reported more than 150 calls to the emergency line 123 for damage to about 43 homes, which were roofless, product of the strong currents.

For this reason, the inhabitants of the island called on the National Government to provide them with humanitarian aid and care.

“We want to make an urgent call to the National Government to make a presence on the island”, said Winston Arenas, Posada del Mar hotel manager.

Edwin Neira, a businessman from San Andrés, commented in an interview for W Radio that the hurricane washed away everything that was around the blowhole, the pier and the coastline.

IDEAM confirmed that, during the next few hours, cloudy conditions with rainfall, electrical activity and intense winds with gusts and swells will continue.

“In San Andrés it is located 201 kilometers and in Providencia, 202 kilometers. It is very distant, because it turned to the southwest, that means that the community must be very attentive to the government and the mayor’s office “, said Yolanda González, director of Ideam.

For his part, the director of the foundation Together for the Archipelago, Farid Zardibia, said that on the island of San Andrés, in a first report, there are 21 families affected.

Also, he noted that the blow was greater on the island of Providencia, of which greater effects are unknown, in addition to economic ones, due to difficulties in communication.

Due to the contingency, the local authorities maintain the total closure of beaches and the prohibition of nautical activities, as long as the weather conditions do not improve.

For now, the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies, asked the community stay alert to the recommendations issued by the authorities, having a briefcase with essential items and identification documents on hand, as well as looking for safe shelters, in the face of repeated electrical storms and strong winds.

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