Alarma por sequía en Bolívar: hay 40 municipios con desabastecimiento de agua por embates del Niño: río Magdalena y Canal del Dique, con bajos niveles

The Department of Bolívar in Colombia is facing a severe drought affecting 40 out of its 46 municipalities, with water shortages caused by the ongoing effects of El Niño. The situation has led to critically low levels in key waterways such as the River Magdalena and the Canal del Dique. In response, the regional government has deployed emergency operations using tankers to supply water to affected communities, particularly in areas deemed most vulnerable. According to reports from the Office for Risk Prevention and Response, the drought has created a dire scenario, with 40 municipalities reporting serious issues related to the lack of potable water. The governor’s administration launched the “Bolívar se Prepara” strategy, which includes increasing the distribution of water through tanker trucks to areas experiencing the worst shortages. Despite these efforts, the scale of the crisis has prompted an urgent call to the national government for additional resources and more tanker units to help alleviate the emergency. The situation has reached critical levels in several towns, with 15 currently under red alert and five declaring a state of public calamity. These alerts highlight the broader impacts of the drought, including massive crop losses, heat stress among rural populations, and an increase in vector-borne diseases. The focus of the crisis is concentrated in the district of Mompox, where prolonged dry conditions have led to the drying up of the left bank of the Magdalena River, directly impacting the intake vessel that serves over 55,000 residents. The failure of this intake system resulted in two consecutive days without water distribution, prompting a joint effort involving heavy machinery from Cormagdalena and troops from the National Army to perform dredging and channeling operations. This intervention partially restored the intake capacity, though officials remain cautious about the long-term outlook. The mayor of Mompox, Juan Nicolás Sinning, warned that the phenomenon will likely worsen during September, necessitating contingency plans. Recent rainfall has temporarily increased river flows in the Mompox area, improving navigability and offering some relief. However, the director of the Office for Risk Prevention and Response in Bolívar, Daniel Franco, clarified that the alert remains active due to volatile weather conditions. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, as forecasts indicate an extreme drought condition for September, maintaining institutional vigilance. The region's infrastructure and agricultural sectors are under immense pressure, with reports of widespread damage to crops and livestock. Local authorities are working alongside national agencies to coordinate aid and implement measures aimed at ensuring basic water access. While immediate actions have been taken, the long-term sustainability of water supplies remains uncertain, highlighting the need for continued support and adaptive strategies to mitigate future risks.