Massive mudslides and flooding in the Cusco Department of Peru have left at least 3 people dead, 20 missing and 300 homes destroyed.
The tragedy follows weeks of severe weather in Peru. Days earlier at least 3 people died in flash flooding and mudslides in Tacna Department.
Peru’s disaster authority, Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia Nacional (COEN), said that heavy rain caused a sudden increase of the Salkantay river, triggering flooding and mudslides in Santa Teresa district, La Convencion province, Cusco, on 23 February, 2020.
COEN said that the towns of Huayrac, Rayanpata, Chaullay, Tambo, Huinaypujio, Wuayracpunco, Lluscamayo, Churubamba, Cedropata, San Igancio, Sahuintuyoc, Collpapampa, Cochapampa, Sahuayaco, Tendalpampa and Suriray have all been affected.
As a result of the damage, at least 300 families have been displaced. COEN said that 4 bridges have also been damaged. Arm, police and disaster authorities are working in the area, cayying out search and rescue operations. It is feared the number of fatalities and those missing will rise as further assessments are carried out.
Social Media
https://twitter.com/ramosnadia/status/1232009191889436673
Ayer fue Tacna, hoy es Santa Teresa (Cusco). Un enorme huaico, posible aluvión (no son lo mismo) afectó y aisló varios sectores y centros poblados. Los reportes recién están llegando. pic.twitter.com/0qqOAY27TA
— Patricio Valderrama (@patriciov) February 23, 2020
https://twitter.com/ucinoticias_pe/status/1231991477355655170
#Cusco: Impactantes imágenes del aluvión en distrito de Santa Teresa que arrasó casas e hizo colpasar cuatro puentes#ElInformativoxNacional 103.9 FM pic.twitter.com/YKlgmTlQgB
— Nacional (@RadioNacionalFM) February 24, 2020
