Floods, landslides, giant waves, power outages, roads and bridges gone, mountains of garbage: several regions of Colombia have been under water since the end of January. The culprit is a cold front in the Caribbean that runs from the North Pole across the Gulf of Mexico to Colombia pulls. According to some researchers, climate change is increasing the frequency of this phenomenon.
Before this weekend, the Colombian Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) warned of a second cold front with even more rain. The peak is expected on Sunday and Monday: with waves up to 3 meters high and wind speeds of over 30 kilometers per hour.
According to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), around 43,000 families have so far been affected by the consequences of the cold front. At least 14 people were killed. With the exception of the Orinoco region, almost the entire country is affected, says Carlos Carillo, director of the UNGRD. In addition, forest fires are currently raging in the Orinoquía province. The Córdoba department on the Caribbean coast has the highest number of victims, with more than 33,000 families affected. It’s actually the dry season there right now.
Shipping, tourism and fishing are suffering, harvests have been destroyed and prices for vegetables have risen massively. The sea, raging rivers and rain destroyed within hours what people had spent years building. They try to bring their belongings to safety in rubber boats or garbage bags and wait for help. In some areas, aerial photos only show treetops.
In Mallama, Nariño department, a mudslide killed seven people on Saturday. Two houses disappeared beneath the earth. This brings the death toll to at least 14 people.
Bad practices and a lack of infrastructure came to light not only in the Caribbean city of Santa Marta due to the cold front: the city administration, military, garbage disposal and students and civil society organizations have been working for days on 700 meters of beach to get rid of tons of garbage. The residents threw him into the Manzanares River, which flows into the sea – but the huge waves washed him back onto the beach.
The National Disaster Risk Management Unit (UNGRD) has President Gustavo Petro recommended an economic, social and ecological emergency due to the cold front to exclaim. Humanitarian aid has started. The cold front is expected to subside from Monday. But the consequences will continue to concern the country for a long time.