A total of 76 people were killed in
Colombia’s winter raining season, which lasted from mid-September to the end of
2008, the country’s Department of Disasters Prevention and Attention (DPAD) said
Monday.
“From Sept. 15 to Dec. 31, 2008, there were 635
emergencies” caused by natural disasters — 11 by avalanches, 109 by landslides,
one by land erosion, 469 flooding, one by electric storm and 44 storms, said
DPAD in a news release.
“As many as 76 people were killed, 100 injured and 18
went missing. 252,436 families were affected, a total of 2,355 houses were
destroyed and 94,571 damaged.”
The winter raining season has affected 468 municipalities
in 32 provinces, added DPAD, which is an institute affiliated to
the country’s Interior and Justice Ministry.
In response to the situation in Colombia, the United
Nations announced 33.7 million U.S. dollars in aid to the country on Dec. 17,
2008. (Xinhua)