Worst floods and mudslides in almost 30 years continue affecting Peru

As of March 24, the worst floods and mudslides in Peru since 1988 have claimed lives of 85 people and injured more than 270. More than 20 people are missing. A state of emergency has been declared in 12 departments. 

More than 784 000 people are affected, including over 111 000 homeless and almost 673 000 severely affected.

1 256 schools are severely damaged, 451 have collapsed and are inhabitable. 344 health centers are affected, of which 28 have collapsed. So far, 25 298 hectares (62 512 acres) of crops have been damaged and 11 800 (29 150 acres) destroyed as well as 2 192 km (1 262 miles) of roads and 195 bridges, DG ECHO reports.

There is a risk of rise in diseases transmitted through water, food and vectors in urban suburbs and rural areas.

As of March 24, the Peruvian Red Cross (PRC-IFRC) reported over 349 000 cases of Acute Respiratory Infection, over 223 000 cases of Acute Diarrhoeal Diseases, over 5 200 cases of Dengue and over 1 000 cases of Zika.

Over the next 48 h, moderate to locally heavy rain may still affect several areas of the country, especially the northern, central and western coastal areas.

Main Amazonas River and tributaries are still rising. Piura and Lambayeque region river flows are also rising and the peak is forecasted from 25 until 27 of March.

Video courtesy ViralHog

Featured image credit: ViralHog