More than 3,000 people in the Choco province in western Colombia have been affected by several days of heavy rain as the Red Cross works to alleviate the situation.
The incessant rain of the last few days caused the Condoto, Atrato, Sipi, San Juan and Andagueda rivers to overflow generating floods that devastated several municipalities in the region.
The Red Cross has been working on the ground to assist the victims, with Choco coordinator Walter Valoyes confirming that at least 636 families across 9 municipalities have suffered the effects of the rains, reported El Tiempo.
The humanitarian organisation confirmed that nobody has been killed or seriously injured but material losses have been significant with whole houses being swept away by the floods.
The Choco Department of Risk Management is waiting for the consolidation of damages before soliciting the help of the National Department of Risk Management.
Floods causing emergencies in 1/3rd of Colombia’s provinces, heavier rains expected
Over the course of this year already, exceptionally heavy rains have forced one third of Colombia’s governors to declare either an orange or red alert with cities flooding.
This year’s first rainy season coincided with La Niña, a recurring Pacific weather phenomenon that causes increased rainfall in Colombia and neighboring South American countries.
In April, hundreds of people died in the cities of Mocoa and Manizales and left the cities devastated after the rains caused the fatal floods, avalanches and mudslides. Since then, the rains have continued to fall.
