The first rainy season in Colombia this year is causing unprecedented destruction throughout the country. According to the Red Cross, 93 Colombians lost their lives, five are missing and 69,000 are homeless because of mudslides and floods.
This year’s excessive rains followed only weeks after the end of last year’s rainy season that left more than 300 Colombians dead and affected over 2 million.
According to official figures, more than 2.8 million Colombians have been affected by both rainy seasons.
The floods, landslides and mudslides have paralyzed the country’s infrastructure; dozens of roads are flooded or blocked by earth and rocks as a result of landslides.
Floods and landslides have been reported in some of Colombia’s biggest cities including the capital Bogota.
Meanwhile, authorities have started investigations against four governors and 26 mayors for irregularities in the distribution of aid packages for victims of the rainy season. According to newspaper El Tiempo, the country’s Inspector General’s Office is considering opening investigations against national government officials too.
So far, Bogota has allocated $178 million for aid, while the total damage of the torrential rains is estimated at at least $5 billion.
Meteorologists have warned that the worst of the rainy season is yet to come. According to the national meteorological institute IDEAM the rains are expected to last until June after which a period of drought is expected to follow.