Flash floods and landslides wreak havoc in Peru

Heavy rains triggered several floods and landslides in Peru on Wednesday, January 22, 2020, particularly affecting the departments of Arequipa and Huanuco. As a result, houses were left damaged and many roads had to be closed. Authorities said damage assessments have been underway.

According to state-owned news agency Andina, flash floods and landslides wreaked havoc in the district of Uchumayo, impacting the communities of Congata and Cerro Verde where more than 80 homes sustained damage– seven of which were severe. Authorities blocked the roads in the affected areas.

Downpours from the previous day also struck Villa Union in the same district, which led to road closures and affected three households, as reported by Peru's National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI).

It was a similar situation for the Yura district, where around 15 individuals were afflicted.

Other areas in the south and central portions of the country also bore the brunt of the severe weather over the past days. Roads were blocked in the departments of Lima, Ayacucho, and Moquegua.

Furthermore, authorities alerted residents of the increasing water levels in the Tacna department's Sama and Callazas rivers.

In the Huanuco department, torrential rain from the early hours of Wednesday caused further flooding which destroyed at least two homes, affecting 29 people in the district of Monzon, Huamalies province, according to INDECI.

On January 16, two fatalities were confirmed in the departments of Pasco and Puno due to flooding.

On January 7, the Mayro river in Palcazu district burst its banks, inundating the towns of Puerto Mayro, San Cristobal, and Rio Negro which affected 81 families, according to the National Emergency Operations Center (COEN). 12 houses were in left ruins, displacing 60 people. Furthermore, crops were also ravaged.

In the Puno department, 77 households were impacted in the district of San Gaban, Carabaya province. Several rivers broke their banks as well, including Quellomayo, Loromayo, and Chaquimayo, which interrupted the supply of drinking water.

Featured image credit: COEN-INDECI