Witnesses of floods in Meta: Black Hawk helicopter rescued 44 people, but 350 remain isolated

A severe flood has damaged the La Amistad Bridge in Meta department, isolating approximately 17,000 residents of El Dorado and El Castillo municipalities. The damage has quadrupled travel time to Villavicencio, forcing residents to take a detour through Lejanías, which previously took one hour but now requires four hours. The incident occurred after heavy rains caused the Ariari River to swell, leading to structural failure of the bridge. The collapse left two towns disconnected from key regional centers and disrupted agricultural activities in the area. The damage to the bridge was caused by the force of the Ariari River, which eroded the right bank approach and collapsed part of the main deck. According to Oscar Olaya, mayor of El Dorado, the old bridge had its supporting pillar removed by the river’s current, leaving only a passage available for motorcycles and pedestrians. The new bridge, constructed in December 2020, replaced an older structure dating back to 1973. However, this newer infrastructure could not withstand the recent surge in water levels. Residents of El Dorado and El Castillo have been affected by both the isolation and the impact on their livelihoods. Agricultural producers of plantains, cassava, milk, and others have suffered losses due to flooding of crops. Additionally, a limestone company suspended operations following the damage caused by the floods. Mayor Olaya suggested that installing a temporary metal bridge over the river might offer the nearest solution to restore connectivity. Authorities have taken immediate steps to address the situation. By Saturday evening, eight yellow machines were deployed at the site under the orders of Governor Rafaela Cortés of Meta. These machines aim to divert waters affecting the right margin of the bridge, facilitating recovery efforts of the road infrastructure. Governor Cortés is currently on-site with mayors of Cubarral, El Dorado, and El Castillo, along with officials from the Departmental Risk Management Directorate and other agencies involved in disaster management coordination. Five villages in El Dorado have been impacted by the floods, three of them cut off from communication because the river washed away the roads connecting La Isla, El Edén, and El Diamante. Power supply to El Dorado and El Castillo has also been interrupted due to damage to the 34.5 kV power line. Workers from the Electrificadora del Meta managed to reach the location of the damage early Sunday morning to begin repairs. Humanitarian aid has begun being distributed to the mayors of El Dorado and El Castillo to assist those rescued from the emergency. The director of the Departmental Disaster Risk Management Office, Luz Nelly Monzón, confirmed that aid distribution has started for the affected communities. In addition to the bridge damage, the sudden rise in the Ariari River led to the rescue of 20 individuals who became isolated in rural areas of El Dorado. A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, configured as an Angel, operated by the Colombian Aerospace Force's Combat Command No. 2, conducted a nighttime search and rescue mission. After coordination with the National Personnel Recovery Center, the crew evacuated the 20 stranded individuals from the area known as Isla 1. During the operation, they received medical attention before being transported to El Dorado, where they were reported safe. Governor Rafaela Cortés announced the activation of a Unified Command Post (PMU) to coordinate all necessary actions to manage the emergency, assist affected families, and work towards restoring mobility. The PMU will bring together competent entities to ensure resources are allocated efficiently and to expedite the restoration of movement as quickly as possible. The La Amistad Bridge, once a vital link for transportation and economic activity in the region, now lies partially collapsed, significantly impacting the local economy and daily life. The region of Alto Ariari, known for producing a variety of agricultural products including bananas, cassava, citrus fruits, pineapples, passion fruit, guava, maize, rice, oil palm, cocoa, and coffee, faces substantial challenges due to the disruption of transport routes and infrastructure.