Colombia: At least 271 dead from floods in November

At least 271 people have lost their lives since the beginning of the month because of of floods which they caused to Colombia the heavy rains. At the same time, a report by the Natural Disaster Management Agency (UNGRD) highlights that this year’s rainy season in Colombia is expected to be the longest in 40 years, estimating that it may last until March.

The rains, linked to the La Niña phenomenon and climate change, have intensified over the past three weeks, affecting 745,000 people in 32 regions of the country, according to the UNGRD.

A section of the press is making extensive reference to this year’s particularly wet winter: “A winter that overflows”, was the headline of the newspaper El Espectador yesterday Thursday, while other media highlighted the deforestation that multiplies the impact of the floods.

In addition to the 271 deaths recorded since early November, including two last weekend in the capital Bogota, 348 people were injured, 6,755 homes and hundreds of roads and bridges were destroyed.

Colombia’s winter season usually lasts until December, but there is a “more than 58% chance” it will extend into February and possibly March, UNGRD director Javier Pava warned at a news conference.

The government of President Gustavo Petros recently declared a state of “national disaster” to free up more reimgs to repair damage and relieve flood victims.

Due to the damage suffered by many crops, food prices are expected to rise further, the UNGRD also warned. All this, while Colombia is recording the highest inflation in two decades (11.4% year-on-year) and an unprecedented devaluation of the hryvnia against the US dollar.