More than 70 affected families and 20 impacted neighborhoods left by the intense rains in Santa Marta

Santa Marta faces a climate crisis after six consecutive days of intense rains, which reached 128 mm (128 l/m²), according to Ideam, This phenomenon has left 70 families affected, 20 neighborhoods flooded and keeps the city on orange alert for possible landslides and flash floods.

The Manzanares, Guachaca, Piedras and Gaira rivers, along with the Valencia stream, experienced overflows and sudden floods, causing flooding in both urban and rural areas.

The interaction of atmospheric systems, a cold front coming from the northern hemisphere and the influence of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) generated unusual behavior for this time of year, intensifying precipitation.

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Currently, the mentioned rivers and streams are under red alert and the rains are expected to continue in the coming days, worsening the risk of flooding and landslides.

Against this backdrop, Mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello led an emergency meeting this Monday, January 6, where immediate measures were implemented to address the crisis.

Among the actions are the installation of a Unified Command Post (PMU) to coordinate the response to the emergency, as well as the preventive closure of rivers and constant monitoring of high-risk areas.

Interventions will also be carried out in affected neighborhoods such as San Fernando, Timayuí, Malvinas, Juan XXIII – Ensenada I, Guachaca, Minca and Bonda, where Mud removal, road cleaning, tree pruning and home diagnosis are carried out.

In addition, monitoring was intensified in spas and road corridors, with special attention to the most affected rural and urban areas.

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Recommendations to citizens

The District alerts residents to follow the recommendations of relief agencies and keep emergency lines at hand. Caution is also advised in areas near water sources, due to increased flows and the possibility of new emergencies.

Mayor Pinedo Cuello pointed out that this situation had not occurred in years and reaffirmed his commitment to effective care for the affected families. “We are going to keep the PMU active and our presence in the three locations of the city to mitigate the impact of the rains,” said the president.

According to official calculations, The rains could extend in the coming days, which keeps the authorities on maximum alert. “The precipitation that fell in one day is equivalent to that recorded during the rainiest month last year,” Pinedo Cuello concluded.