Emergency in Caucasia, Antioquia: more than 4,500 people are at risk from rising Cauca River

The mayor of the municipality of Caucasia (Antioquia), Jefferson Sarmiento Ortiz, warned that, due to the erosion that the Cauca River is causing in the areas surrounding this tributary, more than 4,500 people are at risk due to the likelihood of flooding.

In dialogue with Caracol Radio, the mayor of Caucasia expressed his concern about the increase in flows in the Cauca River caused by heavy rains in recent days, and which, so far, leave four districts in the municipality flooded.

Faced with the panorama, and in order to avoid further emergencies in the municipality, the local president of Caucasia informed Blu Radio that from the mayor's office they have 2.6 billion pesos to make an investment as a contingency plan. However, Sarmiento clarified that, for this, they need intervention and support from the Government of Antioquia.

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In this regard, through a Facebook Live, the mayor of Caucasia called on the regional administration to allocate resources to the municipality, so that they can launch mitigation works.

In his interview with Blu Radio, the mayor of Caucasia added that, given the situation, “at the moment we are at imminent risk and the entire population knows that we are going to do some drills” in conjunction with the Civil Defense and the municipal firefighters, so that the inhabitants are prepared for any emergency.

It should be remembered that Caucasia is not the only municipality in Antioquia on alert for sudden increases due to the winter season. According to the latest report by the Administrative Department of Risk Management of Antioquia (Dagran), published in court on April 11, the riparian population centers located between the municipality of La Pintada and the district of Bolombolo (Venice) up to the Anzá, remain on red alert to the high levels of this tributary.

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The Dagran also reported that, due to the increase in the Sucio River, the municipalities of Abriaquí, Frontino, Uramita, Cañasgordas and Mutatá are the red alert, as are the municipalities of Caucasia, Cáceres and Nechí, in front of the high levels of the Cauca River between Puerto Valdivia and Nechí.

According to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), 131 municipalities in 17 departments of the country have already been affected during Colombia's first rainy season. In total, there are 3,299 families, representing more than 9,100 persons, who have been affected throughout the national territory. The winter wave also leaves 14 dead and 28 injured.

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