By winter season transporters lose $2.8 billion a day in Antioquia

In recent days, heavy rains have affected much of Colombia's territory, but in particular Antioquia, where freight and passenger carriers have stopped receiving up to $2.8 billion a day for the winter season.

Because of the fact that several roads in Antioquia are affected, three of them have restrictions due to collapses and loss of banking, and passenger carriers to Urabá and the southwest are on alert.

According to information from Blu Radio, Samir Echeverry, executive of the Association of Transporters and Passengers of Antioquia, warned that among the most affected roads, the one that goes to Urabá Antioquia has restricted passages during the day and at night it remains closed, which has reduced ticket sales by up to 50% and records losses in the last month of more than 1.6 billion pesos.

“That's because of the long journey they have to take through Monteria. It is about 7 or 8 hours longer to reach some municipalities of Urabá Antioquia. There is only one toll to get to Urabá from Medellin and around the coast there are 9 tolls,” argued Echeverry.

For their part, freight transporters have calculated that due to the route they have to take on alternate routes and the increase in working hours, there are daily losses of 1.2 billion pesos.

Given this, Andrés Quinceno of the ATC Transporters Association asks “that the paleteros or those who give the road in that place be intervened precisely because there is a private business being formed for motorcycles and private vehicles, priority must be given to public transport”.

Gas Shortage Reported by Rains Affected by Rains in San Pedro de Urabá

The heavy rains that hit Antioquia's Urabá are already beginning to affect the supply of natural gas to more than 12,000 people who do not currently have the service in the municipality of San Pedro de Urabá, according to its inhabitants in recent hours. The most affected have been restaurants.

The Public Companies of Medellín announced that the shortage of gas has been recorded because the special vehicle that transports it is delayed due to problems with the state of the road leading to this town of Urabá.

He explained that natural gas is transported with special vehicles suitable for carrying compressed material, so these vehicles, due to their weight, height and type of load, require stable conditions on the road to be able to travel safely. Which is currently impossible to guarantee because of the rainy season.

Thus, while the service is being restored, they recommend that the inhabitants close the knobs and valves of all gas appliances and close the general shut-off valve in the metering center of the property.

In Antioquia, 32 municipalities declare public calamity due to rains

It is worth remembering that on April 5, 32 municipalities in Antioquia declared themselves in public calamity due to the rains that have affected the territories of the department. Climate authorities say they will continue until May or June, so Antioquia were asked to be attentive to river flows and streams, according to RCN Radio.

Jaime Gómez Zapata, director of the Antioquia Department of Risk Management, said that municipalities such as Uramita, Amagá, Montebello and Puerto Berrío are affected by flooding crops, homes, gales and torrential avenues.

We have special attention in municipalities such as Venice, but we have many effects associated with the rains in the department, especially in the Urabá, Southwest and Bajo Cauca.

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