Oxapampa: woman and her little daughter are wanted after being dragged by a mudslide into a river

A mother and her little daughter were swept away by a mudslide that occurred in the district of Huancabamba, province of Oxapampa, in the Pasco region, as a result of heavy rains. As reported by the Regional Emergency Operations Center (COER), the force of the collapse would have led them to the Mallampampa River and they have not yet been found.

The mud and stone slide occurred last weekend and damaged 100 linear meters of the road platform in the marginal area of the Chilachi sector of the aforementioned district, reported the Andina news agency.

“Unfortunately, a family traveling on a motorcycle was swept away by the mudslide. The pilot Ricardo Ponce Espinoza (38) managed to save himself, but his wife Mery Garay Huaricapcha (40) along with his youngest 3-year-old daughter disappeared in the Mallampampa River“, it was informed.

Mery Garay Huaricapcha (40) along with her youngest 3-year-old daughter disappeared in the waters of the Mallampampa River. (Photo: Andean)

Officials from the Office of Risk and Disaster Management of the district municipality of Huancabamba arrived at the scene, who made the damage assessment for registration in the National Information System for Disaster Prevention and Attention.

Residents and relatives carried out the search for the bodies, but the difficult access to the area and the rains have made the work difficult.

Through social networks, Jesica Barias, Mery’s sister-in-law pointed out: “I use this medium to address all people and ask them for two favors: the first is to support me with your prayers for my brother’s family who is going through an immense tragedy, his wife and daughter were swept away by the river; and the second to please help us to continue looking for the bodies that have not yet been found”.

Home damage

The COER Pasco also reported that as a result of the heavy rains the flow of the Paucartambo River increased and two houses were flooded in the Collana neighborhood of the town of Cutuchaca. “A house that worked as a carpentry was destroyed and another house near the river lost half of its structure,” they indicated.