Historic Floods in Northern Colombia Trigger Humanitarian Crisis

(MENAFN) Northern Colombia is facing a severe humanitarian crisis after unprecedented rainfall in February triggered widespread flooding and landslides, reports indicate. At least 14 people have died, and more than 120,000 have been displaced or affected across the departments of Córdoba, La Guajira, Sucre, Magdalena, Chocó, and Antioquia.

The disaster is extraordinary for this time of year. Carlos Carrillo, director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), said that rainfall in Córdoba has surged by an astonishing 1,600%.

“These water levels had never been recorded in February, which is typically the region's driest month,” Carrillo noted, adding that more than 40,000 hectares (98,842 acres) are currently submerged. “There is clearly a climate crisis—an exceptional event,” he said.

The flooding has caused extensive damage to local infrastructure and overwhelmed health systems. Córdoba’s Governor Erasmo Zuleta confirmed that 80% of the department is underwater, with entire neighborhoods flooded up to the rooftops and key access routes cut off.

In La Guajira and Magdalena, continuous rainfall exceeding 12 hours has caused rivers to overflow, paralyzing mobility. Victims in overcrowded shelters are reporting increasing cases of gastrointestinal issues, respiratory infections, and flu-like symptoms, worsened by the lack of clean water and sanitation. Essential supplies, including food, mattresses, and basic toiletries, are critically low as temporary shelters reach capacity.

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