Collapse in Pataz: death toll rises to 7, due to tragic landslide over Retamas annex

On Friday, March 18, three days after the collapse of Retama hill on a populated center, in La Libertad, agents found the body of the seventh victim . The government has decreed a state of emergency in the area, as the rescue work is being carried out, following the rockslide in Pataz.

The body of a woman, identified as Zenaida Polo, was found. A child under 14 years of age was also found. The body of another minor has been identified, but his body has not yet been rescued.

Local authorities have reported that the landslide and rockslide destroyed 6 houses, leaving 12 uninhabitable and 13 affected.

At the moment, 56 people are affected and 45 are affected. In addition, 112 inhabitants have been preemptively relocated to the outskirts of Retamas.

FRAGMENTED ROCK THREATENS TO FALL ON RESCUE PLACE

However, there is a new danger in the area. And it is that a fragmented rock has been reported in the upper part of the hill, which could fall at any time. This would endanger neighbors and rescue personnel and members of the army in the town center of Retama.

“This rock, if we continue digging at the bottom to recover all the missing persons, we have a high risk that it could come. It can cause a lot of damage,” said Manuel Llempén, regional governor of La Libertad.

For this reason, the help of geologists has been requested to attend to the situation and analyze the level of risk in the area.

THEY DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY

One day after the disaster, on March 16, Pedro Castillo is in Retamas, supervising the work of land removal, following the collapse of a hill in Pataz. Seeing the situation in the same place, the president decided to declare the locality in a state of emergency so that when before social support is managed as a matter of priority.

“I have seen how everything is and I tell you that it will be declared an emergency. They will have the support of everything, they will be given everything. We must understand that this area is dangerous, so we are going to go to a place where there is health, education, work,” said the head of state upon arriving in the town.

The president toured the area where the collapse was reported, and pointed out that it is necessary for the authorities with the executive branch to work together to move the people of Retamas to another place, prior to a registration of the town center.

“What we have to do is order ourselves. We neighbors cannot continue to live in an overcrowded place. We can have posts, schools, but nature comes and takes us away with everything. If there is a place where we have to relocate the entire population, count on 100% support from the Government, but let's see a place to go out. Let's make an awareness-raising campaign for neighbors, colleagues, families and get out of here. Let's see a place where we relocate. They're going to have all the backing because there are our kids. The family is there, let's do that please,” said the head of state.

He also pointed out that it is not possible to build housing in a non-habitable area and where there is continuous displacement of land.

“There are people who move from different parts of the country. I have found countrymen here even neighbors from Jaén de Chota and I see that they have a roof attached to the hill, next to the river. Okay, they're coming for the job, but we have to get sorted. We can't be living in these conditions. What is the point of putting a retaining wall from here to there if it is going to come from another side,” he said.