Rains hit the Caribbean: more than 670 homes and families affected in Cartagena and Santa Marta; floods and emergencies in five departments

Heavy rains triggered widespread flooding and infrastructure failures across multiple Colombian departments on Saturday, October 24, leaving hundreds of families displaced and damaging homes in the Caribbean region and the Cundinamarca department. In the coastal city of Cartagena, authorities confirmed that 376 houses were damaged across twenty-four neighborhoods. Nearby, in Santa Marta, approximately three hundred families, representing roughly one thousand five hundred individuals, were left homeless due to severe inundations. The weather system also caused emergencies in Barranquilla, where four vehicles were swept away by strong currents, while seven municipalities in Sucre and various towns in Cordoba reported overflowing streams and blocked drainage channels. The meteorological crisis began in the early hours of Saturday, with precipitation intensifying through the afternoon and night. In the Caribbean zone, the storms were accompanied by high winds that tore roofs off residential structures and uprooted trees. Social media footage captured the extent of the damage, showing water levels rising rapidly in low-lying areas. In response, local governments mobilized rescue units, heavy machinery, and risk management teams to assess damages and provide humanitarian aid. The disaster occurred during a rainy season that officials warned could persist for several days, complicating recovery efforts. In Cartagena, the Office for Disaster Risk Management completed more than twenty-four hours of continuous operations in affected territories. By Sunday, crews were using heavy equipment to remove accumulated trash and debris from drainage canals, a task complicated by the volume of waste obstructing water flow. The district administration identified the accumulation of solid waste in drainage systems as a primary factor exacerbating the flood risks. While cleanup operations continued, risk management teams visited damaged homes to characterize the needs of affected families and distribute humanitarian supplies. The mayor’s office urged residents to avoid discarding garbage into canals, ditches, and sewers, noting that such blockages hinder water evacuation during downpours. Specific neighborhoods hit hard included Villa Rosita, Olaya Herrera, El Pozon, Fredonia, Las Palmeras, San Fernando, Nelson Mandela, Policarpa, and Cerros de Albornoz. Emergencies were also recorded in Bayunca, Manzanillo del Mar, and Membrillal. In Santa Marta, Mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello activated a Unified Command Post to coordinate emergency responses and damage assessments. Affected sectors included La Lucha, Gaira, Korea, El Paraiso, and Villa Betel. A critical bottleneck emerged in Villa Betel II, where the loss of hydraulic capacity at a railway level crossing led to backflow and subsequent flooding. To address this, the municipality deployed heavy machinery to extract sediment from the Tamaca stream, aiming to restore water passage. Inspections were also conducted in the El Paraiso area of Gaira following the overflow of the Gaira river. The administration has been working to clear sediments and manage the immediate threats posed by the rising waters. Simultaneously, the town of Timba in the municipality of Jamundi faced its own emergency. Weekend rains there resulted in roof damage, fallen trees, and floods that left at least three hundred families in distress. Local authorities moved into the affected zones to conduct a census of the damage and identify victims. Residents demanded rapid assistance for those who suffered severe structural damage to their homes. This incident coincided with broader regional issues, highlighting the vulnerability of rural and semi-urban areas to sudden weather shifts. Further north, in the municipality of Fusagasuga within Cundinamarca department, heavy rainfall on Wednesday, October 21, caused similar disruptions. The sudden increase in stream flow, particularly in the Pequien stream, led to overflows and sewage system backups in both urban and rural sectors. Firefighters, first responders, risk management personnel, and employees of the public utility company Emserfusa rushed to the scene to secure safety and inspect conditions. Captain Alvaro Fafan, the departmental fire chief delegate for Cundinamarca, stated that the rains caused multiple streams to overflow and impaired sewerage functionality. Inspection teams checked the La Parroquia stream, finding abundant flow and floating garbage but no evidence of overflow at that specific point. Operational reports indicated that unit M-7 remained active in the Las Margaritas neighborhood, one of the key areas receiving emergency attention. Despite initial warnings regarding potential hazards near water bodies, the Fusagasuga mayor's office reported that no deaths, injuries, or damaged dwellings had been recorded. Officials noted that water levels in the Coburgo, Los Curos, and Manila streams had decreased after the peak of the storm. However, monitoring continues given the possibility of new rises. Meteorological data suggests that the influence of extratropical system Josephine is driving moisture toward the Caribbean coast. Accumulated rainfall estimates range between one hundred and one hundred thirty millimeters, which could sustain rain activity in the coming days. Authorities have issued alerts for sudden rises in water levels and ongoing precipitation. In Fusagasuga, residents living near streams and canals have been advised to monitor water levels closely, avoid traveling through flooded areas, and stay away from water bodies during surges. They were also instructed to move to safe locations if conditions become hazardous. To facilitate reporting of emergencies, specific contact lines were established. In Fusagasuga, the fire department can be reached at 311 585 3577 and 311 884 1152, while the risk management agency operates under the number 311 282 5838. Rescue organizations maintain vigilance over streams and areas with significant water accumulation. Citizens are encouraged to consult official communication channels for updates on changing conditions in their respective municipalities. The combined impact of these events underscores the strain placed on local infrastructure and emergency services across the region.