Colombia – April Floods and Landslides Leave at Least 10 Dead

by in Americas, News

Colombia’s National Unit for the Management of Disaster Risk (UNGRD) reported that since the start of the current rainy season (01 April, 2019) the National Crisis Room has recorded 57 severe weather events, including damage caused by torrential rain and thunder storms, as well as 24 landslides and 19 floods.

Deadly landslide in Neira, Colombia, April 2019. Photo: Defensa Civil Colombia

Severe weather has affected the departments of Antioquia, Nariño, Cauca, Cundinamarca and Huila, leaving 10 people dead, 13 people injured, 1 person missing, 549 families affected, 20 houses destroyed and 384 houses damaged.

Civil Defence in Colombia also reported a massive landslide in Neira, Caldas Department, on 05 April 2019, where at least 3 people died.

Heavy rain and flooding also affected low-lying parts of Florencia municipality in the Department of Caquetá from 07 April, 2019.

Flooding rivers in Vigía del Fuerte Municipality, Antioquia Department, have left several communities isolated since 07 April, according to local media reported.

UNGRD called on the local authorities to prioritise the implementation of contingency plans, such as early warning systems and preventive evacuations. The country’s meteorological agency IDEAM has forecast further heavy rainfall over the coming weeks.

Social Media