At least 18 municipalities in southwestern Colombia are on red alert due to rising levels of the Cauca river, which have already caused some flooding.
According to the national Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies Institute (IDEAM), the level of Cauca and its tributaries exceed the overflow elevation about 12 cm.
A spokeswoman for the government’s National Risk Management office, Sandra Calvo, said that 17 towns in the department of Valle del Cauca “are at risk of flooding” as well as Virginia, a town in Risaralda.
An emergency response team was sent to the region to distribute 4,000 aid packages containing basic food, mattresses, kitchen and toilet equipment, beddings and tents.