Four high-powered water pumps were donated to Colombia by the Venezuelan government Sunday to help reduce flooding, mainly in Bogota.
The pumps arrived in Bogota in order to help lower the water levels of overflowing rivers and canals in the Colombian capital caused by this year’s particularly heavy rainy season.
“The initial pump has the ability to evacuate two cubic meters (2.18 yards) per minute, and allows the drainage of any village or town that is flooded, and that will help the Mayor’s Office to produce a drain very quickly,” said Venezuela’s Ambassador to Colombia, Ivan Rincon.
The ambassador explained that this was a response to the Bogota’s interim mayor’s request for aid, and reiterated the position of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s government to help with “any emergencies that are presented to the Colombian brothers.”
Bogota’s interim Mayor Clara Lopez expressed her gratitude to Venezuela and added, “We will be able to vacate the canal to the river, and create conditions of prevention and solution for ebbing the tide of water that is still present in the lower river.”
Colombia’s second rainy season began September 1, and has caused 164 deaths, the disappearance of 34 people, injured 130 and left 878,274 people homeless in 470 municipalities, according to the government’s Risk Management Division (DGR).
Environmental authorities say that the rainy season has been intensified by the weather phenomenon known as La Niña that could continue into March, 2012.