Large parts of Colombia’s second largest city Medellin have been without running water for ten days after a landslide destroyed part of the city’s water supply network.
According to several media, 40 of the city’s 249 neighborhoods have been without water since April 22, affecting tens of thousands of residents in the predominantly impoverished eastern and northeastern of Medellin. Surrounding villages like Santa Helena and Girardota are reportedly also without running water.
The city’s public service company EPM told local media that water trucks are sent to the neighborhoods to provide drinking water, but according to residents of the poorer neighborhoods located higher up the hills, they are forced to get their water from creeks or nearby ponds.
“They are selling water, but I have not seen one water truck here,” a resident of the Carpinelo neighborhood said. “Supposedly we’ll have water again on Tuesday,” she said.
EPM has been promising for more than a week that the water supply will be restored shortly, but has so far not succeeded.
Schools without running water have suspended classes or have shortened school days to avoid that students are subjected to unhygienic situations.
Medellin city government and EPM spokesmen were not available to comment on Monday morning.