Colombia: Twelve fatalities amid ongoing rainy season /update 4

Event

Heavy rain continues to batter much of the country as of Tuesday, April 17. Since the start of the current rainy season, i.e. the beginning of April, at least 12 people have been killed in associated floods and landslides. The worst hit areas of the country in recent days have been the departments of Antioquia, Boyacá, Cauca, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Santander, and Valle del Cauca.

As of April 17, red flood alerts issued by the Colombian weather service IDEAM - the highest warning level - are in place in parts of the following departments: Antioquia, Casanare, Chocó, Meta, Norte de Santander, Quindío, and Sucre. Lower orange alerts flooding and/or landslides are in place in various other parts of the country. 

Context

Flooding and landslides are common in Colombia during the rainy seasons, which typically occur in April-May and October-November. However, the current rainy season is expected to continue into June. Generally speaking, the flood risk is highest along rivers and the landslide risk is highest in hilly or mountainous zones, particularly in poorer areas lacking proper building code standards.

Advice

Individuals present in affected areas are advised to monitor developments to the situation and adhere to any orders issued by the local authorities. Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.