Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has alerted people in areas devastated by the rainy season to prepare for more rain.
In a press release Monday Colombia’s head of state said, “We must prepare for these new rains and accelerate the works for the recuperation of zones affected by the rainy season. Because the rainy season has not passed and unfortunately, as you can see, it is reluctant to leave.”
The president made a direct statement to the people living on the banks of the Cauca and Magdalena rivers — many of which have been displaced by severe flooding — to prepare for more rain.
He added that, “Due to recent rains in the departments of Tolima, Caldas, Cauca, and Nariño, they are presented with threats of landslides. It’s crucial to be prepared and to prevent any risk.”
Increases in respiratory illnesses due to the rainy season were also of concern to Santos.
“I want to take this oppoortunity to recommend to the Regional Directors of Health that they continue their surveillance of acute respiratory infections in the country, that are historically recorded in the first trimester of the year. Today more than ever we must be aware that prevention is better than a cure,” the leader said.
Townspeople from Pedraza on the banks of the Magdalena river claim that they have not seen aid from the government and said that local authorities are unwilling to build a retaining wall to prevent further flooding.
