The Colombian government reported Tuesday that it has directed nearly $10 million (COP18 billion) toward repairing damages to an Atlantic coast canal caused by the extreme rainy season, according to a presidential press release.
The government is investing the money through the National Disaster Fund and the Colombian roads authority Invias to move forward work on the Dique Canal and complementary projects in the same zone in the Bolivar department.
A large leak in the canal, which flooded villages and displaced 150,000 people, was fully repaired in January, but continued rains throughout April caused fresh holes to open, creating significant problems for the surrounding Atlantic coast departments.
According to a report from the High Presidential Commission for Regional and Citizen Participation, Invias has invested around $2.5 million in repairing roads surrounding the canal, while the disaster fund has allocated approximately $7.5 million for necessary repairs in the area.
Government officials have reported that progress on the repairs in the area is moving along smoothly.