Extreme weather, has led to widespread flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage, with no immediate relief. Dozens of communities in Colombia's Pacific coast and Andean regions were submerged under rising waters leaving 90,000 people displaced. Including communities of indigenous and Afro-Colombian peoples.
For Chocó, a department with high poverty rates and fragile infrastructure, the impact has been devastating. Official reports estimate that flooding has affected 85% of the state, displacing more than 50,000 families across 25 towns. In the Medellín, departmental capital of Antioquia, challenges are faced as heavy rains have increased the risk of landslides and flash floods, leading to road closures. Officials in Antioquia are mobilising efforts to prevent further casualties. Departments of Boyacá, Santander, and Norte de Santander are also experiencing extreme weather conditions, with hailstorms damaging local agriculture. Bogotá has also been heavily impacted from torrential rains flooding parts of the city's northern sector, including the busy Autopista Norte highway. Emergency responders worked throughout the night of 6 November to evacuate travellers trapped during rush hour on the highway, as well as students stranded inside schools.
Forecasters warn the severe weather pattern is expected to intensify throughout November. 700 communities face risks of mudslides, more than 60% of the nation's total municipalities.
Related Resources:
Web Map for Flooding in Colombia
