NEW YORK CITY, USA – Heavy rainfall has been affecting most of Colombia (particularly Andean, and Pacific regions) since the beginning of the “first rainy season” (which lasts from mid-March to June), triggering landslides, causing rivers to overflow and floods that have resulted in casualties and damage.
According to ReliefWeb, the most affected are central and western Departments: Cundinamarca, Cauca, Antioquia, Huila, Nariño and the Coffee Triangle (Caldas, QuindÃo, Risaralda, Tolima, and Valle del Cauca).
According to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) and WHO/PAHO from 15 March to 3 April, ten fatalities, 14 injured, around 5,500 affected people, 22 destroyed, 736 damaged houses across the aforementioned Departments have been reported, mainly due to landslides, followed by floods.
Same sources also report eight damaged educational institutions, several damaged roads and bridges. In addition, media report two more fatalities occurred on 5 April in Norcasia and Marulanda Municipalities (Caldas Department) due to floods and a landslide, respectively.
Over the next 24 hours, more heavy rainfall is forecast over the whole country. (ECHO, 6 Apr 2022)
Floods and landslides caused by heavy rainfall continue to affect the Antioquia Department (north of Colombia), causing an increased humanitarian impact.
According to the Government of Antioquia, at least 13 people died after floods and landslides occurred in Abriaqui Town (central-western Antioquia). In Andes Municipality (Antioquia Department), one person died and 25 were injured due to floods, while at least 14 houses were heavily damaged by floods waters in Uramita Municipality (central-western Antioquia).
Hydrological alerts have been issued for several rivers in Antioquia and warnings for landslides are in effect for 42 localities in Antioquia. On 11-12 April, moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast over most of Colombia, including Antioquia. (ECHO, 11 Apr 2022)
