Severe floods in Colombia leave dead and thousands affected. At least 14 people have died and some 9,000 homes have been destroyed by floods in Colombia caused by the intense rains recorded in recent days in the Córdoba and Sucre departments, President Gustavo Petro reported. The president also detailed that the emergency leaves almost 50,000 families affected, 35,000 hectares flooded, and some 300,000 people affected, amid warnings from the FAO about a possible risk of hunger derived from the climate crisis in the region.Atypical climate phenomenon aggravates the emergencyDuring the last week, several areas in the north and northwest of the country have suffered emergencies due to rains associated with a cold front in the Caribbean, an unusual phenomenon for a season characterized by low precipitation. The Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam) warned that a new cold front will advance between this Friday and Monday, which could aggravate the floods, the overflowing of rivers and the damage to homes, roads and crops. The director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), Carlos Carrillo, described the situation as atypical, as it occurs in a period of low rains.Government evaluates declaring economic and social emergency Given the magnitude of the disaster, Petro announced that he could declare the economic, environmental and social emergency again in the affected area, a measure that could even be extended to other regions of the country. The president also announced response actions, including the intervention of the Army to tear down dikes that block the natural flow of water and the restoration of lands occupied in swamps and streams, in order to mitigate future floods. The situation keeps Colombia on alert due to the growing impact of extreme climate variability in the Caribbean region.
