500 000 people at risk of flooding after La Mojana dam overflows, Colombia
The La Mojana dam in southwestern Colombia overflowed on August 27, 2021, due to high water levels of the Cauca River caused by atypically heavy rains during the month.
The resulting floods affected more than 180 000 people in 39 municipalities across Antioquia, Bolívar, Córdoba, and Sucre departments.
Numerous homes were damaged as well as thousands of hectares of crops. In addition, an unknown number of cattle was lost and an estimated 300 000 more need to be relocated.1
The worst affected are residents of the municipalities of Nechi, Antioquia, and San Jacinto del Cauca, Bolivar.
Departmental entities have declared the red alert given the magnitude of the event and at least 500 000 people living in La Mojana are at risk of future flooding.
On September 13, humanitarian organizations carried out a first Multi-Sector Initial Rapid Assessment. Access to food, shelter, non-food items, WASH, and healthcare needs are reported.
National authorities are discussing with UN OCHA possibilities of mobilizing international support.
La Mojana, made up of four departments, experienced critical moments in 2010 when the La Niña phenomenon left more than 200 000 people affected and 20 000 homes flooded.2
"Today, more than a decade later, due to the floods that occurred in 2010, the fauna and flora have not fully recovered," said Héctor Espinosa, the governor of Sucre.
"This can be aggravated if one takes into account that for this year there is a 70% probability that it will repeat between September and October, which generates enormous concern about the approach of the La Niña phenomenon, as reported by Ideam itself."
Director @UNGRD Eduardo José González, realizó sobrevuelo por el río Cauca en región de #LaMojana, a la altura del departamento de Bolívar, donde inspeccionó los trabajos que se adelantan en los codos del chorro para mitigar su erosión y evitar que se siga ampliando el boquete. pic.twitter.com/Eas6556SC3
— UNGRD (@UNGRD) September 10, 2021
Continúan los llamados por #damnificados de la #OlaInvernal en #LaMojana y San Jorge @GobSucre @hectorolimpo @IvanDuque @UNGRD @manuelcadrazcos #AyudandoAMasPersonas piden la presencia de las entidades públicas para pronta solución de lo que están viviendo hoy #NotiCaimito360 pic.twitter.com/Zs3v1iW9VB
— NotiCaimito (@NCaimito) September 12, 2021
#Sincelejo #LaMojana Cierre de Cara de Gato estaría terminado en 2 meses.
60 ó más días de espera y afectación para una región que pide auxilio a gritos.
El próximo 20 de noviembre estarían terminando completamente la obra.
en la web https://t.co/D1OOsN2CAb pic.twitter.com/lotmRpXBnr
— Sucre Comunicaciones (@SucreComunica) September 14, 2021
Importante el seguimiento del Gobierno Nacional a la emergencia provocada por el río Cauca en #LaMojana que afecta a 11 municipios. Estaremos atentos a la visita de supervisión de las obras que harán hoy el director y subdirector de la @UNGRD al punto de ruptura en Cara e’ Gato. pic.twitter.com/MOQvCzjPdA
— Ruby Chagüi (@Rubychagui) September 10, 2021
References:
1 Colombia – Floods (DG ECHO, ACAPS, local media) (ECHO Daily Flash of 15 September 2021) – ReliefWeb
2 Emergency in La Mojana after the break of the dam due to the rising of the Cauca River – In-24
Featured image credit: UNGRD
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