Gale in Cesar: 'La Loma' Solar Park Suffers Severe Damage, Over 300 Families Need Urgent Aid After Climate Phenomenon

A violent windstorm has struck the La Loma de Calenturas area in Colombia's Cesar province, causing extensive damage to the country's largest solar park and leaving hundreds of families in urgent need of assistance. The phenomenon, described by residents as an unprecedented 'whirlwind,' swept through 14 neighborhoods, leaving a trail of destruction.

The 'La Loma' Solar Park, a significant renewable energy facility with 187 megawatts of installed capacity and over 400,000 bifacial solar panels, sustained damage to its components and support structures. The park, inaugurated by Enel Colombia, generates approximately 420 GWh of renewable energy annually, enough to power around 600,000 people. While repairs are necessary, Enel Colombia has confirmed that the plant will continue to supply energy to the national grid.

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This happened yesterday afternoon, it started raining in some sectors and suddenly a whirlwind formed. It was impressive, many houses were left without roofs and the community is in an emergency.

Beyond the industrial impact, the storm's fury was felt acutely by the local community. Dozens of homes were left without roofs, walls collapsed, and electrical cables were toppled, plunging over 300 families into an emergency situation. Institutions, educational facilities, restaurants, and hotels in the region also suffered damage. Emergency services, led by the El Paso Fire Department, are assessing the extent of the devastation.

Local authorities are coordinating relief efforts, with the Secretary of Mines, Environment, and Agricultural Development for El Paso, Leonilda Royero, stating that a general diagnosis and characterization of affected homes are underway. A donation drive has been launched to support the more than 300 families impacted by the storm. Despite the considerable losses, the resilience of the 'La Loma' solar plant highlights its crucial role in Colombia's energy infrastructure.

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The contingency plan has been activated with all the presidents of the Communal Action Boards of the affected neighborhoods. We are carrying out a general diagnosis and characterization of the affected houses. We are organizing a donation drive because more than 300 families are affected.