Heavy rainfall across Colombia has harmed almost 6,000 people this week, bringing the total number of people battered by the country’s rainy season, flooding, overflowing rivers and landslides to 90,000, reports El Espectador on Monday.
Authorities report that since the country’s rainy season began, 90,027 people have been adversely affected, 18 have died, 91 have been injured, 4 are missing, 210 houses have been destroyed, and another 15,829 have been damaged.
In addition, the rains have led to emergencies being declared in 160 municipalities in 25 of Colombia’s 32 departments.
The rains have prompted the country’s interior minister, Fabio Valencia Cossio, to reiterate his call from last week for local and regional authorities to implement contingency plans to deal with the torrential weather.
Meanwhile, the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) called for a speedy activation of these emergency contingency plans because, in addition to the rainy season, the country is about to commence its hurricane season as well.
According to IDEAM, Colombia’s hurricane season begins in early June and extends into the end of November, and affects much of Colombian coastal regions.