Photo: Government of Antioquia
The heavy rains over the weekend triggered emergencies in several municipalities of Antioquia, with Campamento and Zaragoza being the most affected. This Monday, the Governor of Antioquia, Andrés Julián Rendón Cardona, visited both locations to coordinate the response to the emergency, accompanied by the Secretary of Physical Infrastructure, Horacio Gallón, and the director of the Administrative Department of Disaster Risk Management (DAGRAN), Carlos Rios. The visit focused on assessing damage, offering humanitarian support and coordinating strategies to mitigate future disasters in the affected areas.
In Campamento, the Governor met with local authorities to discuss the consequences of the rainfall in the San Roque and El Carriel villages, where two people unfortunately died due to landslides and flooding. According to information from the Municipal Disaster Risk Management Council, the landslides affected roads and blocked the water intake, leaving the community without aqueduct service.
«We need to build infrastructure that unfortunately anticipates these things that happen due to climate change. “We have to think about more structural solutions,” said Governor Andrés Julián, who announced the participation of VIVA (Housing Company of Antioquia) to analyze the relocation of families in risk areas, looking for land where they can build safe housing solutions.
Emergency in Zaragoza
In Zaragoza, the Governor also supervised the damage caused by the overflowing of the Nechí River and the damming of the La Oca stream. In this town, the most affected neighborhoods were La Esmeralda and El Puerto, where the waters flooded streets and blocked access to multiple sectors.
The Governor announced the implementation of routine dredging in the La Oca ravine to prevent flooding in vulnerable areas. “We have made the decision to do routine dredging in the ravine, which is the cause of most of the flooding in the neighborhoods we visit today,” said the president. This measure will be implemented in the short term, while, in the long term, the relocation of families living in high-risk areas is being studied.
The emergencies not only affected Campamento and Zaragoza. Other municipalities, such as Guadalupe, Dabeiba, Anorí, Urrao and Ebéjico, also faced critical situations due to mass movements, floods and windstorms. DAGRAN reported that in Guadalupe, a torrential flood in the Machete village and a landslide on the Gavino bridge affected more than 30 families who suffered damage to their homes and loss of belongings.
In Dabeiba, a sudden flood in the La Caracol stream left five families affected, although no injuries were reported. For its part, Anorí recorded floods and landslides in urban and rural areas.
The Secretariat of Physical Infrastructure of Antioquia sent yellow machinery to enable the affected roads and guarantee mobility in critical areas.
The efforts of the Government of Antioquia are focused on developing infrastructure and preventive strategies in conjunction with DAGRAN and the Municipal Disaster Risk Management Councils of each municipality. In addition to providing humanitarian aid to those who have been affected by the rains.
2024-11-12 03:16:00
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**Interview with Governor Andrés Julián Rendón Cardona of Antioquia**
**Editor:** Good morning, Governor Rendón. Thank you for joining us today. Over the weekend, Antioquia experienced severe rainstorms that caused significant damage, particularly in Campamento and Zaragoza. Can you tell us more about the immediate response following these emergencies?
**Governor Rendón:** Good morning, and thank you for having me. Yes, the heavy rains indeed caused unfortunate incidents in several municipalities, especially in Campamento and Zaragoza. My team and I, including the Secretary of Physical Infrastructure and the director of DAGRAN, visited those areas to assess the situation firsthand. We met with local authorities to evaluate damages and coordinate our response efforts.
**Editor:** During your visit, you discussed the tragic loss of two lives in Campamento due to landslides. What measures are being implemented to prevent such tragedies in the future?
**Governor Rendón:** It’s heartbreaking to see the consequences of these natural events, and our priority is to ensure the safety of our communities. We need to construct infrastructure that prepares us for these climate challenges. Among our immediate actions is the participation of VIVA to assess options for relocating families from high-risk areas, providing them with safe housing solutions.
**Editor:** You mentioned routine dredging of the La Oca ravine in Zaragoza. How will this help to mitigate flooding in the affected neighborhoods?
**Governor Rendón:** Routine dredging is essential as it will reduce the risk of flooding by maintaining the ravine’s capacity to handle stormwater. By actively managing our water channels, we can significantly decrease the threat of overflow that impacts our vulnerable neighborhoods like La Esmeralda and El Puerto. This short-term measure is crucial as we simultaneously plan longer-term strategies.
**Editor:** Climate change is a significant concern for many regions globally. How do you see Antioquia adapting to these challenges in the future?
**Governor Rendón:** We must think strategically about our infrastructure and community planning. Emphasizing structural solutions is vital. Our approach will include collaborating with experts and utilizing technology to enhance our resilience against climate-related events. It’s a multifaceted challenge, and we are committed to safeguarding our communities.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Governor. It’s clear that Antioquia is taking significant steps in response to these urgent challenges. We appreciate your time today.
**Governor Rendón:** Thank you for having me. Together, we will work towards a safer and more resilient Antioquia.
