Peru floods: 170 000 affected people, 1 105 destroyed houses

Emergencies due to heavy rains, floods and landslides have been occurring in northern regions of Peru since January 31, 2017. Floods hit after a period of near drought conditions.

Nationwide, more than 170 000 people have been affected by floods and landslides by February 7. Of those, 85 000 are in Lambayeque, the worst affected.

The government issued a State of Emergency Declaration for three departments in the north on February 4. By February 6, this number increased to 9.

National Emergency Operations center reported around 27 300 severely affected people. 24 700 of them are people recently affected in Lambayeque.

On February 6, the government said at least 22 people died in recent floods and landslides. 1 105 houses were destroyed, 54 schools and 47 health centers damaged, and 215 km (133 miles) of roads severely affected.

On January 26, heavy rain caused violent mudslide in Peru's Arequipa region. The sad event resulted in deaths of 3 people on the Panamerican Sur Highway. 

On the same day, a 50-room, colonial-era hotel collapsed into the Sicra River in the town of Lircay, central Peru. All guests were evacuated before the collapse and there were no reports of injuries.

The National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology warned that heavy rains will continue and will increase in the coming months, affecting particularly central and southern regions.

More floods and landslides are expected.

Peru's rainy season lasts from November to April. The wettest months are January through April.

Featured image: Major mudslide in Peru's Arequipa region on January 26, 2017.