At least 12 people have died after heavy rain triggered landslides in Colombia’s Caldas Department. Meanwhile in La Guajira Department in the far north of the country over 60,000 people have been affected by flooding since early October.
Landslide in Caldas Department
On 11 October 2018, the Colombia National Disaster Risk Management Unit (UNGRD) reported heavy rain had triggered landslides in the Los Andes neighborhood of the municipality of Marquetalia in Caldas Department.
At least 12 deaths have since been reported. Four people were injured and 28 rescued. Four homes damaged and 2 destroyed in the landslides.
Social Media
#NoticiaEnDesarrollo aumentó a 12 el número de víctimas en Marquetalia, Caldas, luego de presentarse un movimiento en masa esta madrugada. Siguen acciones de búsqueda y rescate en zona de emergencia pic.twitter.com/OqVUb9tpse
— UNGRD (@UNGRD) October 11, 2018
#Marquetalia Deslizamiento producido a las 2:30am en el barrio Los Andes cubrió 5 viviendas.
Hasta el momento se han rescatado 23 personas sanas y salvas , 4 personas lesionadas, 4
personas fallecidas y hay 10 desaparecidas. Estamos viajando al sitio. pic.twitter.com/geJJSaUt24— Gestión del Riesgo Caldas (@jeriesgocaldas) October 11, 2018
Flooding in La Guajira Department
Over 60,000 people have been affected by flooding since early October in La Guajira Department, according to a report by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA).
The La Guajira Regional Government has declared a state of emergency and President Ivan Duque visited the affected area on Saturday 13 October.
According to a report by UNOCHA, four districts have been affected, with Uribia by far the worst hit. As of 12 October, as many as 63,485 people had been affected by the floods in Uribia, with 635 affected in Riohacha, 395 in Fonseca and 50 in Albania.
In Uribia, the municipalities of Nazareth, Siapana, Puerto Estrella, Castilletes, Punta Gallinas and Flor del Paraíso ar the worst affected. Roads have been blocked and some communities cut off. Schools in Siapana have been closed.
La Guajira’s Departmental Council for Disaster Risk Management said that rain is forecast until the last week of November, or early December, as the rainy season comes to a close.
Rivers
According to figures from Colombia’s Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM), the Rancheria river in San Francisco, Barrancas district, La Guajira, jumped from around 2.2 metres to 4.33 metres in the space of a few hours on 12 October, 2018. Red alert (highest) level is 4 metres. The river dropped back to a normal level of 2.16 metres by 13 October, but further heavy rain caused the river to rise again on 15 October, this time to 2.97 metres, just under yellow level alerts (3 metres).
The Cesar River at Corral De Piedra, San Juan Del Cesar district, jumped from around 0.5 metes to 3.48 metres late on 11 October (danger level is 3.25m) but was back to normal levels the next day.
Readings for the Rancheria river in Riochada were unavailable.
Social Media
En #Uribia Avanzan obras de adecuación hidráulica de los caños kutanamana y chemerray. En menos de 48 horas el municipio retorna a la normalidad y la comunidad regresa a sus viviendas, UNGRD y Entidades Operativas y de Socorro del SNGRD trabajando sin descanso. pic.twitter.com/9dnqYtzoSr
— UNGRD (@UNGRD) October 16, 2018
Respuesta y atención en Uribia se mantiene con apoyo del Gobierno Nacional. https://t.co/KyA5v4I2pe pic.twitter.com/84jzsLjvvL
— UNGRD (@UNGRD) October 12, 2018
#Uribia | Con apoyo del Batallón de Ingenieros Militares del @COL_EJERCITO se hace limpieza y remoción de agua y lodo en las viviendas afectadas de este municipio de La Guajira por la #TemporadaDeLluvias
Se trabaja en la estabilización de la situación. pic.twitter.com/WbMWCrYzk5— UNGRD (@UNGRD) October 11, 2018
Para soportar la inundación presentada en Uribia, La Guajira por causa del represamiento de los arroyos KUTANAMA y CHEMARRAIN se adelantan acciones y obras de mitigación como el reforzamiento de Taludes con sacos de polipropileno lideradas por las Entidades Operativas del SNGRD pic.twitter.com/sLlHQ3Yujv
— UNGRD (@UNGRD) October 11, 2018
Flood Summary
Locations
Magnitude
El Eden, Quindío Department - October 10 to October 11, 2018
Although local and national disaster agencies said the landslide was a result of heavy rain, there are no available rainfall figures for this area that show significant rainfall amounts. Ogimet figures here for the nearest significant rainfall for this period.
Rionegro, Antioquia Department - October 10 to October 11, 2018
Damages
Marquetalia Municipality - October 11 to October 11, 2018
Marquetalia Municipality - October 11 to October 11, 2018
Marquetalia Municipality - October 11 to October 11, 2018
Marquetalia Municipality - October 11 to October 11, 2018
Flood Summary
Locations
B - Riohacha
Magnitude
Merida, Venezuela - October 5 to October 6, 2018
Ogimet figures.
Cesar River at Corral De Piedra, San Juan Del Cesar district, La Guajira - October 11 to October 11, 2018
Cesar River at Corral De Piedra, San Juan Del Cesar district, jumped from around 0.5 metes to 3.48 metres late on 11 October (danger level is 3.25m) but was back to normal levels the next day.
Rancheria river in San Francisco, Barrancas district, La Guajira - October 12 to October 12, 2018
The Rancheria river in San Francisco, Barrancas district, La Guajira, jumped from around 2.2 metres to 4.33 metres in the space of a few hours on 12 October, 2018. Red alert (highest) level is 4 metres
Rancheria river in San Francisco, Barrancas district, La Guajira - October 15 to October 15, 2018
The river dropped to a normal level of 2.16 metres by 13 October, but further heavy rain caused the river to rise again on 15 October, this time to 2.97 metres, just under yellow level alerts (3 metres).
Damages
La Guajira - October 7 to October 19, 2018
