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“What a brave sun my key”, “here the devil enters and runs away”, “one day we are going to dawn turned into coal”Are some of the expressions heard in El Difícil, department of Magdalena, when noon arrives.
This town, of about 19,000 inhabitants, according to a list published by the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam), is the hottest municipality in all of Colombia.
In this town, where people live from commerce, the countryside, livestock and motorcycle taxiing, the temperature reaches 40.6 degrees Celsius.
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This measurement supports the permanent complaint that this population has, that they feel that they live in a desert, because in addition to the heat that is unbearable, they do not have water and there is a deficiency in energy.
And it is that the Ariguanenses, although they feel proud of their roots and of having been born in a land of accordions, they do not stop recognizing that facing the sun’s rays on a daily basis in combination with the precariousness of public services, is a challenge.
Problems with water and electricity
In more than half of the town, the water does not come out of the pipes in the houses, so people have no choice but to walk steep streets in search of the precious liquid in those privileged places.
Others, to avoid this wear and tear, prefer to buy the water resource from transporters who sell the pimpina for 500 and 800 pesos.
In the department of Magdalena, the aqueduct coverage is 67.3% according to DANE-2018 and the sewerage 31.4%.
Germán Gamarra, a resident of the Las Flores neighborhood, says that “if it is not water, then it is light that is not efficient.” His criticism is based on the fact that the electrical energy presents a lot of intermittence and usually fails when they turn on air conditioners and several fans at the same time together with other electrical appliances.
“Here it is impossible to sit and watch television without even turning on a fan, unfortunately when there is more than one appliance on, the transformers saturate and the power goes out”, story.
Electricaribe, through its manager, Jorge Rivero, stated that the problems in the provision of the service are registered by the power overload that occurs at certain hours of the day, especially in those neighborhoods where fraudulent connections have been detected that are little more 30 percent.
However, the entity’s manager promised to make some investments to improve the municipality’s electrical infrastructure.
“We are planning to use more than six billion pesos to decongest the electrical system and boost the transformers, this will allow a greater regularity in the distribution of the service,” he reported.
The challenge of walking
“I don’t know what this town has that whoever arrives does not want to leave despite the high temperatures and the problems that exist. Perhaps the people and the treatment make foreigners fall in love “said Leonel Mendoza, who from Barrio Arriba, fanned his sweaty face with a piece of cardboard.
Of course, Mendoza clarifies that the exception are Venezuelans, who leave scared because they cannot find work and because of the heat.
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Ariguaní was built on hills, meaning that people to go from one side to the other instead of walking, climb streets that are steep slopes.
It is not only people who suffer. In the municipality, there are many mechanical workshops, such as that of Luis Villalba, where cars with overheated engines often arrive.
But in reality, the main means of transportation that Ariguanenses use is the motorcycle, either as a driver or barbecue.
Those who do not have the economic possibility of riding a motorcycle, choose to move on foot, yes, they cannot do it without the umbrella that covers them a little.
Leonel is part of this group of people, who says that although it is possible to get used to the high mountains, it will always be torture to have to deal with the high temperature.
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Very few street vendors are seen in public spaces because they cannot stand being exposed to the rigors of the sun’s rays.
Traders, shopkeepers and business owners chose to put a “roof” on the streets.
They were organized and have huge polyshades to reduce glare and make life more bearable for your workers and, of course, customers.
Diego García, who is dedicated to motorcycle taxation, says that he does not go out without putting on sunscreen, gloves and a mask, as they are as important as a helmet to protect his physical integrity and health.
Health effects
Doctors at the municipal hospital reported an increase in the number of patients with tension problems and skin lesions in the last year.
The health authorities of the department recommend that people who live with high temperatures drink plenty of water and avoid physical activities, especially in hours when heat peaks occur.
The municipal mayor, David Farelo indicated “That our Government Plan includes green projects to oxygenate the people with the planting of trees in parks and churches.”
(This story was originally published on April 11).
ROGER URIELES
Special Envoy THE TIME
The Difficult (Magdalena)
