29,000 Colombians evacuated due to floods
April 24th, 2011 - 9:12 am ICT by IANSBogota, April 24 (IANS/EFE) Over 29,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in Colombia due to massive floods triggered by torrential rains, the Colombian Red Cross (CRC) said.
“The situation remains difficult” as rain continues to fall in 24 of Colombia’s 32 provinces, CRC official Cesar Uruena said.
The worst affected are people living in the basins of Colombia’s two most important rivers - the Magdalena and the Cauca, he said.
In La Dorada town on the banks of the Magdalena, 4,200 families have fled. Another 1,700 families were evacuated in Puerto Boyaca town.
The level of the Magdalena rose after dam operators began releasing water from a rain-swollen reservoir near the southwestern city of Neiva.
“We have had more than a year of daily rains,” the CRC official said.
–IANS/EFE
pm
- Bomb strapped to horse wounds two Colombian soldiers - Jul 12, 2011
- Six Colombian soldiers convicted for killing activist - Jun 12, 2010
- Guerrillas use dead body in attack in Colombia - Dec 08, 2011
- Five die in Colombian bar attack - Sep 27, 2011
- Salsa singer hurt in accident in Colombia - May 01, 2012
- Man gets 24 years for Colombian journalist's killing - Feb 07, 2012
- Use of children to transport drugs increasing in Colombia - Dec 28, 2010
- Top Colombian rebel commander killed - Nov 05, 2011
- Colombia mudslide kills seven - Nov 27, 2008
- 13 Colombian rebels killed in airstrike - Nov 16, 2010
- Colombia seizes 2.2 tonnes of cocaine - Sep 13, 2011
- Colombian rebels recruited teenagers, says activist - May 19, 2012
- Over 280 dead in Colombia rains - Dec 19, 2010
- Priest slain in Colombia - May 03, 2012
- Four dead in Colombia mudslides - Nov 17, 2010
Tags: april 24, banks, basins, bogota, cauca, colombia, colombians, crc, dam operators, efe, magdalena, massive floods, neiva, puerto boyaca, rain, rivers, southwestern city, torrential rains