According to Peru’s Civil Defense Institute (INDECI), around 3,000 people from 690 families have been forced from their homes after several days of heavy rain caused flooding in areas of San Martin region, northern Peru. Peru’s central government has since declared a state of emergency in the region.
The heavy rain caused the Huallaga and Huayabamba rivers to overflow, inundating around 3,000 hectares of farmland, as well as causing damage to homes and property.
The rain has been falling for several days. The Regional Government of San Martin, in co-ordination with INDECI, have been helping shore up flood defences and distribute relief supplies, including tents, sandbags, blankets and food rations since 20 January. However, distribution of supplies has been hampered by the floods, which have damaged or blocked roads in the region.
168 viviendas afectadas deja desborde de río #Huallaga en #Loreto http://t.co/Y1NFqYYvTH pic.twitter.com/HhXfdMmb3p
— Agencia Andina (@Agencia_Andina) January 24, 2015
Desborde del río #Huallaga deja 30 mil familias damnificadas http://t.co/2RPJZmQbiz http://t.co/QyuGL0FiA9
— Diario Correo (@diariocorreo) January 24, 2015
#VIDEO Miles de afectados por el desborde del río #Huallaga http://t.co/ZKQwNZjUUp pic.twitter.com/SXg6buPLPB
— La Prensa (@laprensaperu) January 24, 2015
The San Martin region was affected by floods in late December 2014 when 2 people died.
