Colombia – 30,000 Evacuated After Floods in Putumayo Department

More than 30,000 people were evacuated from several municipalities in Putumayo department, southern Colombia, after heavy rainfall between 11 and 12 August, 2018.

The affected municipalities were Villagarzón, Puerto Guzmán and Mocoa, the location of the devastating mudslide where 316 people were killed in April 2017.

Over the weekend Colombia’s disaster management agency, Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (UNGRD), activated an Early Warning System, facilitating the evacuation of more than 30,000 people who were at risk. No fatalities were reported.

In a report of 14 August the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that the heavy rain caused the Sangoyaco, Mulato and Mocoa rivers to overflow. Four people were injured, 597 people affected (169 families), 169 homes damaged and 14 homes destroyed.

The flooding also damage roads and bridges and interrupted water supply to almost 100,000 people in the area.

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Flood Summary

Last updated: August 21, 2018
Event
Putumayo Department, Colombia, August 2018
Date
August 11 to August 12, 2018
Type
Flash flood
Cause
Extreme rainfall

Locations

A - Mocoa
B - Puerto Guzmán
C - Villagarzón

Magnitude

River level
Overflowing
Sangoyaco, Putumayo Department - August 11 to August 12, 2018
According to a report by OCHA, the Sangoyaco, Mulato and Mocoa rivers all overflowed.
River level
Overflowing
Mulato, Putumayo Department - August 11 to August 12, 2018
River level
Overflowing
Mocoa, Putumayo Department - August 11 to August 12, 2018

Damages

Evacuated
30,000
Putumayo Department - August 11 to August 12, 2018
Injured
4 people
Putumayo Department - August 11 to August 12, 2018
Buildings damaged
169 buildings
Putumayo Department - August 11 to August 12, 2018
Buildings destroyed
14 buildings
Putumayo Department - August 11 to August 12, 2018