Bridges were destroyed by floods in Meta
© Colombian Air ForceBridges were destroyed by floods in Meta department.
Wide areas of Colombia have seen heavy rainfall since the start of July. According to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), the rain has caused over 80 incidents of flooding or landslides in 19 departments of the country, with over 5,000 families affected.

Meta, Putumayo and Antioquia Departments

Flooding in Meta Department affected the municipalities of El Castillo, Lejanías, El Dorado, Guamal, Cubarral, Granada, Acacias and Villavicencio. The departmental government reported on 06 July that 1,245 families were affected and 131 families evacuated. Twenty-four homes, several bridges and over 1,000 hectares of crops have been damaged. The Meta government said the Ariari, Guape, Guamal, Guayuriba, Urichare, Cumaral and La Cal rivers all overflowed after heavy rain in early July.

Hundreds of homes were damaged by flooding in Sibundoy and Mocoa municipalities of Putumayo Department on 04 July, 2020. Media report over 2,000 families were affected.


Meanwhile in Antioquia, the departmental government reports that 4,575 people have been affected by heavy rains and winds and 39 homes have been destroyed, with Vigía del Fuerte municipality the worst affected areas after the Atrato, Murrí and Arquía rivers broke their banks around 08 July. Severe flooding was also reported in Yalí municipality, where a state of disaster was declared. Colombia Civil Defence reported rain-related fatalities in El Bagre (2) and in Caldas municipality.

Fatalities

Several other fatalities were reported as a result of flooding, landslides or building collapse across the country, including in Samaná, Caldas Department, Chaparral in Tolima department and Timbiquí in Cauca.

Three people died when a river broke its banks, sweeping away a house in Piedecuesta, Santander Department on 08 July. Meanwhile heavy rain on 11 July triggered a landslide in Santa Marta, Magdalena, causing a house to collapse and 2 fatalities.



Social Media