At least 22 dead or missing following severe flash floods and landslides in Colombia
Severe flash floods and landslides due to persistent heavy rain claimed at least eight lives and left 14 missing in central-north Colombia, national authorities reported on Wednesday, February 26, 2020. An orange alert has been issued for mudslides in the affected areas as moderate rain is expected to continue to Friday, February 28.
In the Santander department, torrential rains triggered the overflow of several local rivers in the municipality of Piedecuesta. Colombia's National Unit for Management of Disaster Risk (UNGRD) initially reported three deaths and six others missing.
At least seven people also sustained injuries, including three who were rescued.
UNGRD said small rivers and creeks broke their banks, causing damage to roads and houses in the area. Floodwaters prompted more than 150 people to evacuate.
Authorities have since closed the roads in the afflicted areas.
The national government has provided support for the emergency response in the affected municipality while search and rescue operations are underway. Police, civil defense, and fire service are all involved in the mission.
#VIDEO Lluvias provocan inundaciones en varios sectores de Piedecuesta, Santander https://t.co/CXTpd4I0v4 #MañanasBLU pic.twitter.com/LER3KPS3Ls
— BLU Santanderes (@BLUSantanderes) February 26, 2020
Una familia llora de alegría después de rescatar milagrosamente a un bebé de ocho meses de edad que quedó sepultado por una avalancha en la región de Piedecuesta, Santander, Colombia. Las lluvias en este país han provocado inundaciones y deslizamientos. #InternacionalesTR pic.twitter.com/x8ZfmOUUg7
— Telemetro Reporta (@TReporta) February 26, 2020
Así se realizan las operaciones de búsqueda por parte de nuestros operativos en el apoyo a la emergencia presentada en #Piedecuesta. @mariojcarvajal @alcpiedecuesta @Alcaldiafblanca @DNBomberosCol @DGRDSantander @UNGRD @GobdeSantander @vanguardiacom pic.twitter.com/BP3p3q9GGz
— Bomberos Florida/ca (@floridabomberos) February 26, 2020
Al enviar un mensaje de solidaridad a las familias afectadas por la avalancha en Piedecuesta, Santander, el Presidente @IvanDuque informó que desde el momento que ocurrió la tragedia, dio instrucciones precisas a la @UNGRD para que brinde la debida atención a los damnificados. pic.twitter.com/zNuY5uBOGr
— Presidencia Colombia (@infopresidencia) February 27, 2020
In the Caldas department, a mudslide pounded a neighborhood in the Los Mangos of Chinchina municipality on February 26. As a result, two houses were destroyed while three sustained damages.
Five people also lost their lives in the tragedy, bringing the death toll to eight.
According to the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM), the strongest rains are expected in the Amazonia region on Thursday, February 27. Rain will decrease in the Andina zone, except in Huila and Santander.
An orange alert for landslides has been issued for Caldas as moderate rain will continue over the affected areas to February 28.
Heavy downpours also sparked flash floods in Santander last month. In 2017, at least 16 people were killed in landslides in Caldas.
Hasta el momento se han recuperado los cuerpos de 4 personas y se mantienen los trabajos para el rescate de la persona que falta. Noticia en desarrollo…… pic.twitter.com/J3rWOfeQ8C
— UNGRD (@UNGRD) February 26, 2020
Las fuertes lluvias generaron un deslizamiento de tierra en Chinchiná, Caldas. Esta emergencia dejó, hasta el momento, 4 personas muertas. Esto se sabe de la tragedia pic.twitter.com/LCfXxymU7C
— EL TIEMPO (@ELTIEMPO) February 26, 2020
Al menos ocho personas murieron y 14 más desaparecieron en dos emergencias ocurridas en los departamentos colombianos de Santander (noreste) y Caldas (centro) a causa de avalanchas generadas por fuertes lluvias que afectan al país pic.twitter.com/dZsDfRg1lb
— ZONA 3 (@zona3noticias) February 27, 2020
Hoy #TodosSomosPiedecuesta y con la ayuda del señor gobernador @MAguilarHurtado la @UNGRD la fuerza pública @PoliciaBmanga @COL_EJERCITO @DefensaCivilCo el cuerpo de Bomberos de PTA, así como los municipios vecinos hemos atendido la emergencia. ¡Gracias! Vamos a salir adelante pic.twitter.com/z8cZvUDyXP
— Mario José Carvajal Jaimes (@mariojcarvajal) February 26, 2020
Para el día de hoy las lluvias más fuertes se esperan en las regiones Orinoquía y Amazonía. Se prevé disminución de precipitaciones en la zona Andina, excepto en Huila y Santander. En el Caribe y la Orinoquía persistencia de tiempo seco. pic.twitter.com/styRaPxmng
— IDEAMColombia (@IDEAMColombia) February 27, 2020
Featured image credit: UNGRD
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