From mid-March, when the rainy season began in 2022 until April 3, according to data from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), at least 149 events have been recorded in 101 municipalities in 15 departments of the country, with Cundinamarca, Cauca, Antioquia, Huila, Nariño and the Coffee Region being the most affected by rainfall. In addition, some 2,365 families have been affected, representing more than 5,500 people affected, and 10 deaths and 14 injured have been recorded in that 20-day period. Likewise, 736 homes have been damaged and 22 more have been destroyed.
“Mass movements and floods represent 80% of the events that have occurred the most during the season, adding between these two, 115 events (89 mass movements, 26 floods),” the entity highlighted in a report.
On the other hand, damage to infrastructure, reports indicate damage to 205 roads in the country, as well as on 15 vehicular and 2 pedestrian bridges. In addition, 21 aqueducts and 12 sewers and 8 educational institutions have been damaged.
According to the Ministry of Transport, at least 11 departments already have road emergencies due to precipitation.
The authorities have already activated the technical and operational systems to deal with any possible emergencies that may arise and to speed up work in areas where obstructions are already occurring, as announced by INVIAS.
“Personnel and machinery such as backhoe loaders, loaders and dump trucks have been provided. Throughout the country, we have 3,600 microentrepreneurs or collaborators, including engineers, technicians and operators, who are present on the roads in charge of the entity, ready to attend to any emergency event and facilitate road mobility,” said the technical and structuring director of INVÍAS, Guillermo Toro Acuna.
According to the Ministry of Transport, there have been 415 emergencies associated with rains so far this year, of which 175 have caused total road closures and in 196 cases partial closures. In the last period, there have been 20 small landslides on roads and 11 damage or loss of banking.
In total, 11 departments are the most affected: Santander, Boyacá, Risaralda, Huila, Meta, Norte de Santander, Caldas, Cauca, Nariño, Tolima and Caquetá. The main situations of care are presented in five of them:
Boyacá: the road leading from Dos y Medio - Otanche is partially closed by landslides at kilometers 11, 52, 55, 83, 86 and 89. In addition, partial closures are presented in the Chiquinquirá - Tunja, Belén - Sácama and Otanche - Chiquinquirá road corridors.
Santander: On the Santa Rosita - Onzaga highway there is a total slip closure at kilometer 12. Total closure was ordered in the Los Curos - Malaga corridor, due to the loss of the bank at kilometers 88 and 87, due to the growing El Canelo stream, which has led INVÍAS personnel to remove the rocky material and mud on the road. On the other hand, there is a partial closure in the Onzaga - Soatá road corridor due to the overflow of the ravine.
Risaralda: There are partial slide closures at kilometers 11, 12 and 36 of the Santa Cecilia - Asia road. Partial closure of the Santa Cecilia - Mumbu and Apia - La Virginia roads is presented.
Huila: Partial closures occur on the Balsillas roads - Santo Domingo, La Plata - Valencia, Altamira - Gabinete, Orrapihuasi - Depression El Vergel - Florence, Puerto Nolasco - Nataga, Paicol - Tesalia - Uruel and a loss of banking on the Pipiripal-Villavicencio road.
Nariño: Partial closures are recorded due to landslides on the Pasto - Mojarras, Galeras ring road, Tuquerres - Samaniego, Pasto - Higuerones, Pasto - La Piscicultura and Junín - Pedregal.
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