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Colombia Declares National Disaster Due to Heavy Rains
Heavy rains cause widespread flooding and landslides across Colombia, prompting President Petro to declare a national state of disaster.
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United States
Climate ChangeLatin AmericaNatural DisasterRefugees And MigrationFloodingEmergencyLandslides
Unidad Nacional Para La Gestión Del Riesgo De Desastres (Ungrd)Government Of Colombia
Gustavo PetroCarlos Carrillo
- What prompted President Petro to declare a national state of disaster in Colombia?
- Colombia's President Gustavo Petro declared a national state of disaster due to heavy rains causing floods and landslides affecting 27 of 32 departments and nearly 46,000 families.
- What is the current reported impact of the heavy rains and resulting disasters in Colombia?
- Preliminary reports indicate 186 municipalities across 27 departments are affected, with 467 recorded events. While there are no official reports of missing persons, one death has been reported in Santander.
- What actions will the Colombian government take as a result of declaring a national state of disaster?
- The declaration allows for the redirection of national budget resources to affected regions. The government also cites deforestation, illegal economies, and rapid urbanization as contributing factors to the vulnerability.
- Which department in Colombia has been most severely affected by the recent rains and subsequent disasters?
- The most affected department is Chocó, with over 30,000 affected families and 22 municipalities impacted. Other severely affected areas include La Guajira and Bogotá.
- What is the expected duration of the heavy rains and what areas are of particular concern to the government?
- The heavy rains and resulting disasters are expected to continue throughout December, according to President Petro. The government is focusing its efforts on Chocó, La Guajira, and Bogotá due to the severity of the situation.