Colombia declares a state of emergency after devastating floods and torrential rains
The Colombian government has officially declared a national state of emergency in the country as an urgent measure to address the catastrophic consequences of the devastating floods that have swept across vast areas of the north, resulting from an unprecedented wave of torrential rains. This decision aims to enable authorities to expedite relief efforts and allocate the necessary resources to the affected areas, which are facing dire humanitarian conditions.
Details of the presidential decree and exceptional measures
A state of emergency has been declared for 30 days by decree of Colombian President Gustavo Petro. This decree grants the government broad powers to take immediate exceptional measures, most notably the ability to allocate funds directly from the national budget to affected areas without prior congressional approval, thus ensuring a rapid response to the crisis.
Heavy human and material losses
Official reports revealed the immense scale of the devastation caused by the floods, with initial reports conflicting on the number of victims. While the National Disaster Management Authority initially announced 22 deaths, authorities later revised the figures and confirmed a death toll of 18. On the material front, the torrential floods destroyed more than 4,300 homes, leaving thousands of families homeless.
The most affected areas: Disaster in the Caribbean
The damage was concentrated mainly in eight provinces, most of which are located in the Caribbean: Córdoba, Antioquia, La Guajira, Sucre, Bolívar, César, Magdalena, and Chocó. Córdoba, a major cattle-farming center, was among the hardest hit, with more than 150,000 homes flooded due to the overflowing of dams and surrounding rivers.
Long-term economic and agricultural repercussions
The effects of this disaster extend beyond direct losses, posing a threat to food security and the local economy. Vast areas of farmland, estimated at 300,000 hectares, have been inundated. These are fertile plains upon which the country depends for agriculture and livestock grazing. The Livestock Breeders Association reported the death of more than 1,200 head of livestock, foreshadowing significant economic losses for farmers and livestock breeders in these areas and necessitating long-term government plans for reconstruction and compensation for those affected.
