Colombia on Wednesday declared a state of emergency as severe floods claimed 18 lives and left thousands displaced in the country’s northern cattle belt.
The flooding, caused by overflowing rivers and a dam breach in Córdoba — one of the hardest-hit departments — has affected over 150,000 residents. Authorities say more than 4,300 homes have been destroyed, and vast areas of grazing and farmland are submerged.
The country’s cattle ranchers’ association reported that at least 1,200 cattle have perished due to the floods.
Earlier this week, Colombia’s disaster relief agency had reported 22 deaths nationwide but later revised the figure downward.
Under the emergency decree, President Gustavo Petro can take special measures for 30 days to address the crisis, including allocating resources to affected regions without seeking congressional approval.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as heavy rains persist, raising fears of further flooding and more displacement in northern Colombia.
