Casanare Faces Severe Humanitarian Crisis Amid Unprecedented Flooding

The eastern Colombian department of Casanare is grappling with an unprecedented winter emergency, as relentless rainfall has submerged vast areas. Authorities have registered over 4,200 families as affected, a figure anticipated to grow as damage assessments are ongoing in both rural and urban zones. In response to the severity of the crisis, Casanare Governor César Augusto Ortiz declared a state of public calamity.

"This unprecedented, historic wave of winter is leaving severe damage across the entire department," Ortiz stated in a press conference. "The first thing I must say is that we have declared a state of public calamity due to the heavy rainy seasons." Images and videos shared on social media depict the extensive scale of the flooding in municipalities including Yopal, Algarrobo, San Luis de Palenque, and Hato Corozal, with many homes, crops, and roads inundated.

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This unprecedented, historic wave of winter is leaving severe damage across the entire department. The first thing I must say is that we have declared a state of public calamity due to the heavy rainy seasons.

The meteorological and hydrological situation remains critical. Technical monitoring indicates that the Guanapalo and Cravo Sur river basins have surpassed their normal levels, causing widespread overflows. Governor Ortiz elaborated on the reports from official institutes, highlighting the extreme conditions. "Reports from Ideam and Corporinoquia keep us on high alert in Casanare due to sudden rises from constant rains. We have historic sudden rises, even river overflows. We haven't seen overflows like this in over 50, 60, 70 years," he explained. The department is under red alert for floods in the Casanare, Ariporo, Pauto, and Cravo Sur rivers, and red and orange alerts for landslides in numerous municipalities.

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Reports from Ideam and Corporinoquia keep us on high alert in Casanare due to sudden rises from constant rains. We have historic sudden rises, even river overflows. We haven't seen overflows like this in over 50, 60, 70 years.