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El Niño phenomenon threatens Trujillo: 2,000 residents and 500 homes at risk from unfinished works
🇵🇪 Peru /Disasters & Emergencies

El Niño phenomenon threatens Trujillo: 2,000 residents and 500 homes at risk from unfinished works

From La República · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The mayor of Moche in Trujillo, Peru, warned that unfinished infrastructure projects pose a significant risk due to the impending El Niño phenomenon.
  • Approximately 2,000 residents, 500 homes, and agricultural lands are at risk if the projects, particularly those diverting quebrada waters, are not completed.
  • The municipality has allocated 62% of its budget to El Niño prevention efforts due to a lack of central government funding.

The looming threat of the El Niño phenomenon has raised serious concerns in Trujillo, Peru, with local authorities warning that incomplete infrastructure projects could endanger thousands of residents and hundreds of homes. The mayor of Moche, Roberto Chávez, highlighted that crucial works aimed at diverting water from quebradas (ravines) to the Moche River are only 60% complete.

Chávez cautioned that if these diversion projects, managed by the National Infrastructure Authority (ANIN), are not finished on time, approximately 2,000 inhabitants, 500 houses, and agricultural lands in areas like Curva del Sun and La Barranca could face severe impacts. He specifically noted that while ANIN claims 100% completion for some routes, the Galindo quebrada is only at 43% and the Moche River diversion is at 60%, leaving a critical 40% unfinished.

What is the quebrada, ANIN says it is 100% in all its routes, but the Galindo quebrada is at 43%. What is the Moche River is at 60%, and then the other 40% that should be done is missing. The waters of the quebradas that were going to divert to the Moche River are not finished.

— Roberto ChávezDetailing the incomplete status of critical water diversion projects.

Adding to the concern, the mayor lamented the central government's failure to allocate specific funds for El Niño emergency preparedness. In response, the Moche municipality has proactively invested 62% of its own budget into preventative measures. These efforts include purchasing water pumps, machinery, roofing sheets, and mats for humanitarian aid.

The situation underscores a critical gap in disaster preparedness, with local authorities bearing the brunt of the financial responsibility for mitigating the effects of the natural phenomenon. The unfinished projects represent a tangible vulnerability for the region as El Niño approaches.

We know that the government has not allocated a budget to deal with the emergency, but what we have done is buy water pumps, machinery, roofing sheets, and mats for humanitarian aid.

— Roberto ChávezExplaining the municipality's proactive spending on prevention due to lack of central funding.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La República in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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