Ideam Warns of Landslides in Colombia: These Departments and Municipalities Face the Greatest Risk

Recent rains have left soils saturated across parts of Colombia, particularly in areas with slopes and steep terrain. The Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies, known as Ideam, is maintaining surveillance over locations facing possible landslides.

In its update on Saturday, September 5, Ideam divided the threat into three levels: high, moderate and low. The highest level currently includes municipalities in Antioquia, Arauca, Bolívar, Boyacá, Casanare, Cauca, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Córdoba, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo and Valle del Cauca.

The monitored areas stretch across several regions. In the Caribbean, the list includes Santa Rosa del Sur in Bolívar and Tierralta in Córdoba, along with other territories in Bolívar, Córdoba and La Guajira. Antioquia has numerous municipalities under the forecast, including Alejandría, Anorí, Carolina, Cisneros, Cáceres, El Bagre, Gómez Plata, San Carlos, San Rafael, San Roque, Santo Domingo, Tarazá, Valdivia and Yolombó. Guayabetal appears in Cundinamarca, while municipalities in Boyacá and Norte de Santander also face the highest threat level.

The Pacific region remains another focus of attention. In Chocó, the monitored municipalities include Alto Baudó, Bagadó, Bahía Solano, Bajo Baudó, Bojayá, El Carmen de Atrato, Lloró, Medio Atrato, Nuquí, Quibdó and Tadó. The list also contains municipalities in Cauca, Nariño and Valle del Cauca.

Monitoring extends to the Orinoquía and Amazon regions. Saravena is included in Arauca; Hato Corozal, Sácama, Támara and Yopal in Casanare; and Acacías, Cubarral and Restrepo in Meta. In Putumayo, the bulletin names Mocoa and San Francisco, while Caquetá includes El Doncello, El Paujíl, Florencia and La Montañita. Other municipalities in those departments fall under lower threat levels.

Ideam stressed that an alert does not mean a landslide has already happened. The levels distinguish the probability and conditions that could favor these ground movements.