Iota is the first Category 5 hurricane to hit Colombia – destroys 98 percent of infrastructure on the island of Providencia
Hurricane "Iota" strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane — peak winds of 260 km/h (160 mph) — on November 16, 2020, as it was passing over the Colombian Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, making it the strongest tropical cyclone of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season and the strongest-ever to hit Colombia. It weakened into a Category 4 hurricane, just 2 km/h below Category 5, prior to landfall in Nicaragua, making it the strongest November hurricane to hit the Central American country.
According to Colombian authorities, 98% of the infrastructure on the island of Providencia (population 5 011) has been damaged or destroyed, including the local hospital, which has been completely destroyed. Communication with the island was temporarily lost.
Image credit: Open Street Map. Annotation: TW
Hurricane "Iota" at 10:00 UTC on November 16, 2020. Credit: NOAA/GOES-East, RAMMB/CIRA, TW
Hurricane "Iota" at 11:00 UTC on November 16, 2020. Credit: NOAA/GOES-East, RAMMB/CIRA
A preliminary assessment indicates at least 2 dead, while the total number of people affected is not yet known. The neighboring island of San Andres (population 43 000), also faced damage to its infrastructure. National emergency teams have been mobilized, including the delivery of 4 000 tents and 2 field hospitals, DG Echo reports.
Iota's passage over the archipelago marked the first time a Category 5 directly struck the country.
In addition, heavy rains associated with a tropical wave and Iota caused extensive damage in mainland Colombia, leaving at least 7 people dead and 11 others missing. Massive damage took place in the Mohán sector of Dabeiba, where landslides killed three people, injured 20, and left 8 others missing.
In a press conference Tuesday morning, November 17, Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez said they have started rebuilding Providencia Island, where 98 percent of the infrastructure had been destroyed.
"We began to remove rubble from the island, accelerate the delivery of humanitarian aid and tents to enable family spaces."
Rough seas on November 17 prevented the Colombian Navy from reaching the island, though Duque was able to fly by helicopter for an aerial survey.
Authorities said the emphasis was placed on evacuating critical injuries to the mainland before establishing the field hospitals.
The Colombian military deployed engineers and 15 tons of food.
Duque stated that a plan for the complete reconstruction of Providencia's infrastructure was to be drawn up within 100 days and that all of the destroyed housing would be rebuilt by 2022.
Iota strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 260 km/h (160 mph) on November 16, making it the strongest tropical cyclone of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.
It weakened into a Category 4 hurricane, just 2 km/h below Category 5, prior to landfall, making it the strongest-ever November hurricane to hit Nicaraga.
The storm made landfall near the town of Haulover, on November 17 — just 25 km (15 miles) south of where Eta made landfall on November 3.
As of November 19, Iota is blamed for the deaths of at least 38 people.
Amérique centrale : l’île colombienne de la Providence, destination paradisiaque située au large des côtes du #Nicaragua a été la 1ère à être balayée par l’#ouragan #Iota avec des #vents de 300 km/h. Les images des dégâts sont édifiantes avec des paysages littéralement ravagés… pic.twitter.com/d2iOp5NG6D
— Guillaume Woznica (@GWoznica) November 18, 2020
#sanandres #providencia #Colombia these people need help. Will someone help my Colombian family??????? pic.twitter.com/HhnlNtzrLv
— Colombian-76.- GTFO Orange Shitstain (@i113galA1ien) November 18, 2020
So sad my home… #HurricaneIota #Iota #Providencia mi isla natal/my lovely island. I really can't believe the destruction. pic.twitter.com/yABirOHLo4
— ⟭⟬방탄x아미⟬⟭ᴮᴱ⁷ (@Sweetzummy1) November 18, 2020
La isla de #Providencia quedó casi completamente destruida por el huracán #Iota
En esta galería os mostramos la devastación sin precedentes en la islahttps://t.co/f6ceyWQlOc pic.twitter.com/MxFLCXu7IU
— CIEM – Info y Emerg (@Cieminfo) November 19, 2020
En el día 3 de la atención de la emergencia ocasionada por el #Huracanlota en su paso por el Archipiélago de San Andrés y Providencia; #Hoy Presidente Iván Duque, lideró reuniones de Planificación, Acción y Evaluación en #Providencia con el equipo de Gobierno y autoridad local. pic.twitter.com/dpqvjEI9XL
— DireccionBomberosCol (@DNBomberosCol) November 19, 2020
Featured image credit: CIEM
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