The departments that are on red alert due to flood risks

At least 99 Colombian municipalities are the red alert for risks of flooding or landslides due to rain that plague the country, warned the Ombudsman’s Office, which urged the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) to adopt “urgent measures“to counter the “La Nina” phenomenon.

(See: Rains expected to be heavier in September: UNGRD).

For the Ombudsman, the situation is worrying, since the most up-to-date data from the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam), in the last eight days, show that 70 municipalities are on red alert due to the risk of flooding and 29 due to landslides.

Breaking down the figures, the Ombudsman reported in a statement that Antioch, with 17, it is the department with the highest number of municipalities at risk of flooding.

follow him Casanare (fifteen), Goal (fifteen), Bolivar (eleven), cease (4), Cordova (3), Atlantic (2 and Guaviare, Santander and Vichada with one municipality each.

Similarly, on red alert for landslides are Antioch 12 municipalities, Goal, 4; Casanare, Cesar and Santander, two. Boyacá, Caldas, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Nariño, Norte de Santander and Risaralda, with one each.

(See: Rains in Bogotá will go until the second season at the end of the year).

According to the Ombudsman, Carlos Camargo, when communities suffer from a flood or landslide, their right to enjoy a healthy environment is affected, as well as health, work, decent housing, food security and access to water, including life itself.

“Therefore, it is urgent that the risk system take immediate action“said the official.

Ombudsman Camargo, faced with this increase and the effects that may arise, particularly for the most vulnerable, asked the Territorial Risk Management Councils to reassess and update risk management plans and take into account weather and climate conditions current and for the coming weeks.

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“The risks and consequences that the La Niña phenomenon can bring to the most remote and vulnerable communities are worrying. If urgent measures are not taken, conditions that affect human rights may ariseCamargo pointed out.

The ‘La Niña’ phenomenon originates from intense rainfall caused by the cooling of the Pacific Ocean.

Between March and June of this year, 80 died in Colombia as a result of the rains, which also leaves 34,114 families affected, according to data from the UNGRD.

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In 2021, there were 802 floods compared to the 428 that occurred in 2020, which constitutes an increase of 87%, according to figures from the Ombudsman’s Office through the Delegate for Collective and Environmental Rights, which has also In recent years, a considerable increase in natural disasters has been identified in the country.

According to the World Meteorological Organization, the ‘La Niña’ phenomenon could continue until 2023.

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EFE