The Colombian National Disaster Risk Management Unit (UNGRD) announced that the first rainy season this year will begin in the second half of March, which was already covered by the phenomenon of La Niña, which left 30,600 victims and huge material losses.
These people, belonging to approximately 7,855 families in 226 municipalities of 24 branches, were victims of 421 rainfall incidents such as landslides and floods that occurred from January 1 to Tuesday, March 15. In addition to material losses, 67 people were injured during the winter, 48 died, 7 were missing.
Almost half of these disasters occurred on the night of the last two weeks: from March 1 to 15 March 12,600 of 3,554 families were injured, 12 were killed, 14 were injured, 6 were missing; 1840 houses were injured, 33 more were destroyed.
Theoretically, the first half of the month closes the season with the least amount of rains and drought that began in the last quarter of 2021. However, with the advent of La Niña rainfall increased by the end of February. The transition between the two seasons ends at the end of March, and the rainy season lasts until June.
After June, the month when La Niña is expected to continue with low intensity rains, weather conditions are expected to return to normal on other thermal floors.
The areas most affected by this rainfall increase will be the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, a forecast that coincides with the natural disasters that occurred in Antioquia, Cauca, Cundimarca, Choco, Wili, Tolimi, the Coffee Region, Nariño and Santander.
Apart from these areas already affected by the rain, information provided by the Columbia Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) extends warnings to the Boyac and Foothills department of Amazon and Llanero.
The Relief Agency also notes that there is a risk over the rest of March due to the increased flow of large rivers in Andean, Pacific and Orinokia, especially Cauca and Magdalena.
According to Eduardo José Gonzalez, director of UNGRD, they give preventive warnings about rain.
In Antioquia, more than 600 families were evacuated from the municipality of San Carlos. The victims were taken to temporary shelters with the support of the Armed Forces. Several citizens told Blu Radio that they could not remove their belongings before a sudden flood. They lost everything, given that there was little water on the circle of victims, which had to leave their homes with the help of institutions.
In Santander, flooding occurred both in Bucaramanga and in the metropolitan area.Several local governments were conducted. Communication was interrupted due to the high level of rivers and flooding of some of them. In addition, several citizens reported that floods directly affected their homes, as the water covered several centimeters. Mainly in the municipalities of Giron, Malaga and San Gil.
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