The Committee for Disaster Prevention and Treatment in the city of Bucaramanga, northeastern Colombia, has issued a severe flood warning following heavy rains in the region.
Edgar Ragu, one of the Committee’s coordinators, advised “all residents in Bucaramanga’s metropolitan area to be on high alert. The Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Affairs has warned that the rain will worsen over the coming days as a result of La Niña phenomenon. This may lead to rivers overflowing we well as the risk of landslides in areas where there are hills and cliffs.”
According to RCN Radio, the rainy season could last until “the middle of June” and the worst affected neighborhoods are likely to be Cafe Madrid and Comuna 14, where rainy weather has historically caused the most serious problems.
Authorities are currently considering evacuating these areas where Ragu specifically advised people to “keep an eye on the levels of streams and rivers and alert the disaster agency immediately should you witness a rise.” He also advised residents to “ensure drains are un-blocked and to avoid repairing windows or roofs during this period.”
The La Niña phenomenon is a climate pattern that causes an increase in sea temperature, which can lead to heavy rainfall.