OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Colombia: Floods
30 May 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

1. Situation

According to the last reports of the National System for Disasters
Prevention and Assistance, SNPAD, floods and landslides have seriously
increased in the last days due to heavy rains from the first rainy season,
particularly in the central region of the country in the departments of
Cundinamarca, Tolima and Antioquia.

Due to the high levels of water registered in the Rivers' tributaries, the
Nacional Institute for Hydrology, Metheorology and Environmental Studies,
IDEAM reinforced the alert for high water levels and floods in Arauca,
Magdalena, Cauca, Otun, Atrato and Bogot=E1 Rivers and declared alerts for
sudden high levels in Carare River (see map No. 2) as well. Also, a high
water level alert was reinforced in San Andres and Providencia in the
Caribbean and landslide alerts were delcared for the in the mountain areas
of Meta, Cundinamarca, Casanare, Tolima, western Antioquia, eastern Caldas
and western Boyac=E1. (DPAD, Press release # 076 May 28)

According to IDEAM, a tropical wave is currently crossing the country from
east to west causing the heavy rains to worsen.

2. Impact

On May 28, DPAD registered 102.745 people affected (21.165 families), 11
people dead, 33 injured and 3 missing in en 192 municipalities of 27
departments in the country. The same source, reported 370 houses
destroyed, 10.652 damaged and nearly 366 hectares of crops flooded.
Resides, damages were reported in 28 roads, 3 car bridges, 7 aqueducts, 15
school facilities and 8 community facilities.  The most affected
departments are Antioquia, Santander, Narino, Boyac=E1 and Bolivar. Only in
May, nearly 34.000 new persons (33% of the total affected) were affected.

Arauca

Floods in the Caranal and Arauca Rivers began since mid-April, affecting
323 persons / 61 families. IDEAM reinforced the alert in Arauca River,
between the municipalities of Arauca and Arauquita. Heavy rains have
increased water levels to the critical levels of affectation.

Casanare

Floodsin the Cravo Sur River affected wide rural areas. Also, IDEAM warned
on the occurrence of landslides in Aguazul, Tauramena, Barranco de Upia,
Ch=E1meza and Monterrey.

According to the Colombian Red Cross, Cravo Sur River surpassed the
critical flood level affecting 90 persons (30 families) in the rural areas
of Yopal. No report on material affectation is available so far; however,
CRC reported that 200 hectares of crops and grass were affected. Nearly
3.000 families are currently at risk in the municipalities of Pore, Paz de
Ariporo, Hato Corozal, Yopal, Nuncia, Villanueva, Tauramena and Mani.

Attachments:
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