La Leche River threatens over 6,000 families in Lambayeque; defense work stalled by budget shortfall

More than 6,000 families in the Íllimo and Pacora districts of Peru's Lambayeque region are at risk of losing their homes, belongings, and livestock due to the potential overflow of the La Leche River. This threat is heightened by the anticipated intense rainfall associated with the El Niño phenomenon, expected between late 2026 and early 2027. The primary cause of this vulnerability, according to Íllimo Mayor Juan Pablo Santamaría Baldera, is the failure to construct essential riverbank defenses. These structures were designed to reduce the impact of rising river levels, but their absence leaves thousands of residents, many living in precarious conditions near the riverbanks for decades, completely unprotected. Santamaría Baldera stated that the construction of these defenses cannot begin currently and emphasized the need for future execution of the project. He attributed the delay to a lack of budget, explaining that the National Infrastructure Authority (ANIN) was supposed to start the works at the end of 2024. "If these defenses had been built, we would be a little safer," he remarked. Residents are making desperate appeals for urgent action. Rosario Cajusol, a resident of the Las Juntas sector in Pacora, recalled the devastating floods of 2017 and 2023 and fears her home will be swept away. "I ask the authorities to help us," she pleaded, highlighting that about 70 houses in her sector alone are at risk. The community urgently needs measures like stone reinforcement to contain the river's flow. Beyond the immediate flood risk, the deteriorating condition of the La Leche bridge poses another critical threat. Its bases are severely damaged, and it has not undergone comprehensive maintenance since 1998. If the bridge collapses due to increased water levels, the entire northeast region and the coast would be cut off. The project for a new bridge is currently stalled due to issues with the tender process initiated by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC).

“

In these moments, the river defenses cannot begin. However, we must continue to think about the execution of this project in the future. The National Infrastructure Authority (ANIN) should have started the works on the La Leche River at the end of 2024, but unfortunately, due to lack of budget, it was not possible. If these defenses had been built, we would be a little safer.