Intense Rains Cause Floods and Mudslides in Numerous Areas of Peru
Heavy rains in Peru this weekend have caused floods and mudslides in southern regions, especially Arequipa and Ica, and also in the northern coastal areas of Piura and Tumbes, although there are still no official reports of damage or fatalities. The department of Arequipa is currently the most affected by the intense rains, and in recent days numerous streets have flooded. Additionally, several mud and water slides have occurred, entering homes and damaging roads, agricultural land, and buildings. This Monday, ministers arrived in the Yanahuara district, one of Arequipa city's most affluent areas, to coordinate state actions for road repairs and humanitarian response for affected populations. Yesterday, a father and his minor son were swept away by the current in the Cayma district, also in Arequipa, confirmed by local mayor Juan Carlos Linares, bringing the death toll in this region for the rainy season to four. Similarly, in the department of Ica (south), several mudslides have occurred, affecting not only populations but also the Panamericana Sur highway, causing partial closures of several sections over the weekend. On Monday morning, a mudslide blocked kilometer 337 of the Panamericana Sur, near the Ocucaje district, leaving hundreds of heavy cargo and passenger vehicles stranded for hours. Furthermore, on the north coast, particularly in the Piura, Tumbes, and Lambayeque regions, intense red-level rains in recent days have also damaged infrastructure and buildings. The National Civil Defense Institute (Indeci) reported on Monday that 378 districts in the sierra and north coast are at risk of landslides and other mass movements, according to a meteorological notice from Senamhi, which forecasts moderate to heavy rainfall until Wednesday, February 25. The National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) reported that several rivers in these regions have reached the red threshold, endangering nearby communities. Local media and social media users have shared images from the tourist coastal district of Máncora, in Piura, where rains have destroyed a popular hostel and intense electrical storms have occurred. If you want to receive this and other information on your cell phone, download Telegram, enter the link https://t.me/albertorodnews and click +Join.
TL;DR
- Intense rains have caused severe flooding and mudslides in Peru's southern (Arequipa, Ica) and northern coastal (Piura, Tumbes) regions.
- The Arequipa region is the most affected, with damaged homes, roads, agricultural land, and buildings.
- At least four people have died in Arequipa due to the heavy rains and associated mudslides.
- Sections of the Panamericana Sur highway in Ica have been blocked by mudslides, leading to stranded vehicles.
- 378 districts in the sierra and north coast are at risk of landslides and mass movements.
- Heavy rains have also caused damage to infrastructure and buildings in the northern coastal regions of Piura, Tumbes, and Lambayeque.