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.
Social Media
En Mocoa, varias viviendas arrasadas, un puente peatonal colapsado e inundaciones, hacen parte del balance que entregan autoridades por cuenta del invierno #VocesySonidos https://t.co/WGzjCQI0cg pic.twitter.com/jUmsxWpVFi
— BluRadio Colombia (@BluRadioCo) August 12, 2018
(1/2) He sido informado desde esta madrugada sobre las inundaciones registradas por fuertes lluvias en Mocoa. Se activaron rápidamente los protocolos y se realizó una exitosa evacuación preventiva, y ya se encuentra en operación el Puesto de Mando Unificado.
— Iván Duque (@IvanDuque) August 12, 2018
(2/2) He solicitado al Dr. Eduardo José González, director de @UNGRD viajar a la zona para atender personalmente la situación que ya se encuentra bajo control, y que no registra afortunadamente, hasta el momento, casos de heridos ni pérdidas humanas.
— Iván Duque (@IvanDuque) August 12, 2018
Julio Cesar Rojas, Gerente de Aguas Mocoa explica cómo ha sido proceso para rehabilitar y poner en funcionamiento el servicio de agua, luego de que se presentaran daños en tramos del acueducto tras el desbordamiento de los ríos Mulato y Sangoyaco, el pasado domingo @Minvivienda pic.twitter.com/MpidbXx7wn
— UNGRD (@UNGRD) August 15, 2018
Flood Summary
Locations
B - Puerto Guzmán
C - Villagarzón
Magnitude
Sangoyaco, Putumayo Department - August 11 to August 12, 2018
According to a report by OCHA, the Sangoyaco, Mulato and Mocoa rivers all overflowed.
Mulato, Putumayo Department - August 11 to August 12, 2018
Mocoa, Putumayo Department - August 11 to August 12, 2018
Damages
Putumayo Department - August 11 to August 12, 2018
Putumayo Department - August 11 to August 12, 2018
Putumayo Department - August 11 to August 12, 2018
Putumayo Department - August 11 to August 12, 2018