Students study amid dampness and damaged walls after flooding in SJL: parents report risk and demand relocation

More than a month after a major water pipe burst flooded parts of a school in San Juan de Lurigancho, Peru, hundreds of students are still attending classes amidst what parents describe as dangerous conditions. The incident on May 24th caused significant water infiltration and structural damage to the Fe y Alegría educational institution.

Parents express deep concern over the ongoing situation, citing persistent humidity on walls, peeling paint, and the precarious proximity of a large water tank. "The kids keep attending in these conditions. My daughter is afraid of the tank. We can't take her out because there are no vacancies, and we don't have money for another school," one mother told reporters, highlighting the lack of alternatives.

Technical assessments corroborate the parents' fears. A report from the Municipality of San Juan de Lurigancho's Risk Management unit concluded that 85% of the school's infrastructure is compromised. This includes damage to wall bases, columns, and various rooms, with at least four meters of the perimeter wall collapsing, particularly near the initial level.

The municipal report recommends that Sedapal, the water utility company, cover the repair costs, including cleaning, disinfection, fumigation, and debris removal. It also calls for an independent structural expert to precisely determine the school's condition and necessary urgent measures. A preliminary Civil Defense report from February had already classified the school as 'very high risk' due to its poor state of conservation, even before the recent flooding.

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The kids keep attending in these conditions. My daughter is afraid of the tank. We can't take her out because there are no vacancies, and we don't have money for another school.