Venezuela: Floods - Apr 2022

This year, the rainy season in Venezuela has been atypical. As a result, on 27 April, the states of Mérida, Zulia, Trujillo, Táchira, and the Capital District and Greater Caracas were declared in a state of emergency. On 27 May, an orange alert was declared in the Zulia region due to increased rainfall and the re-re-channelling of the Zulia River to the southern Lake Maracaibo. This situation has affected an estimated 56,778 people, 6,159 houses and a loss of 150,000 agricultural hectares in the Zulia province.

According to the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, three more tropical waves were expected to hit early June, worsening the country's severe conditions. Since June 6th, the impact of the Tropical Storm Six has exceeded the response capacity because of the damages reported due to the saturation of soil humidity, which caused floods across the country. In the state of Merida, 30,000 people have been affected in at least 20 sectors, including the damages to houses and infrastructure, and roads are waterlogged, limiting the access to communities. (IFRC, 22 Jun 2022)

Since the beginning of the rainy season (late-April), heavy rains and floods have affected 86,800 people (56,778 people in Zulia and 30,000 in Mérida states). The intensity of the rains are aggravated by La Niña phenomenon. On 21 June, the governor's office of the Zulia state decreed a state of alert. New tropical waves with short intervals of time between (2 or 3 days) continue, breaking previous year's rainfall records. The 2nd tropical storm of the hurricane season is expected to affect northeast Venezuela on 30 June, with possible localized flash flooding and winds to tropical-storm-force expected.

DG ECHO mobilized EUR 150,000 in emergency humanitarian funding to assist 1,000 families (5,000 people) in the states of Mérida, Táchira, and Zulia in the areas of shelter, health, water, sanitation and hygiene, livelihoods and protection, gender, and inclusion through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF). (ECHO, 30 Jun 2022)

On 10-11 August, heavy rainfall was reported across Venezuela, affecting particularly the States of Barinas, Táchira, and Miranda (west Venezuela), according to the Vice Ministry for Risk Management and Civil Protection (VGRPC). According to media reports, more than 2,000 people have been affected, and a number of individuals have been displaced to shelters in Barinas, where at least 190 houses have been damaged after the overflow of the Socopó River. In Táchira, more than 140 families have been affected and approximately 30 houses were destroyed in La Gran Sonera Sector, while around 120 homes were damaged in the municipality of Sucre (Miranda), close to Caracas Capital City. In northern Venezuela, the coastal cities of Puerto Paya (Aragua State) and Puerto Cruz (Vargas State) have been isolated after the overflow of several rivers damaged transportation routes, and the infrastructure for electricity and water supply. On 12-13 August, moderate to locally heavy rainfall is forecast over most of Venezuela. (ECHO, 12 Aug 2022)

Since 22 September, heavy rain has impacted Táchira State (western Venezuela), causing floods, flash floods, and leading to casualties and damage. According to media, at least seven people have died while three others are still missing. (ECHO, 28 Sep 2022)

The influence of the remnants of tropical wave No. 41 and the presence of the intertropical convergence zone have produced an accumulation of rainfall above the records of previous years. National authorities indicated that at least 17 states with a total of 120 municipalities in Venezuela have been affected by the heavy rains occurred on 8 October 2022 impacting at least 64,000 people by floods, flashfloods, and landslides. The states that have been affected include Anzoátegui, Aragua, Barinas, Bolívar, Carabobo, Distrito Capital, Falcón, Guárico, Mérida, Miranda, Lara, La Guaira, Portuguesa, Táchira, Trujillo, Sucre, and Zulia. (IFRC, 21 Oct 2022)

Heavy rainfall continues to affect various states of western Venezuela, triggering a number of landslides and causing widespread flooding. In Zulia state, media report that there are at least 68 flooded communities across Guajira municipality, after the overflow of Limon river. More than 700 families have been displaced to temporary shelters, while at least 5,000 households have been affected. Floodwaters have damaged extensive areas of agricultural cropland. In Tachira state, at least 200 families have been isolated in Santos Michelena municipality, due to landslides that blocked several road infrastructures. In addition, approximately 300 families have been affected by heavy rainfall across Tachira state. (ECHO, 28 Nov 2022)