Colombia: Floods - Nov 2024

The Colombian government has declared a national state of emergency for the second time this year due to heavy rains and floods, primarily impacting Chocó and La Guajira. In Chocó, flooding from the Atrato, San Juan and Baudó rivers has affected more than 188,000 people, with strikes in five municipalities by a non-state armed group limiting mobility for at least 20,000 people. In La Guajira, flooding has affected at least 195,000 people, including migrants and refugees. Priority needs include food, shelter, clean water, cooking supplies, hygiene items, and healthcare. The Colombian government is leading the emergency response with support from the Humanitarian Country Team. Other climate-related emergencies are ongoing across the country, including water shortages in Bogotá and floods and landslides in Antioquia, Magdalena, Valle del Cauca, Meta, and Caldas. (OCHA, 15 Nov 2024)

UNOCHA reports, as of 25 November, around 28,500 displaced people and a total of approximately 383,300 affected people across 36 municipalities of the aforementioned affected departments. In addition, 105 schools have been damaged in the Chocó and the La Guajira departments. Over the next 48 hours, more heavy rainfall is forecast over most of the country. (ECHO, 26 Nov 2024)

The impact of the rainy season in Chocó, a department in the Pacific region, continues to rise, affecting nearly 215,000 people. The most affected municipalities include Alto Baudó, Bojayá, Litoral del San Juan, Medio Baudó, Nóvita and Riosucio. The severe weather has destroyed 17,000 hectares of crops and caused the loss of 23,000 animals, severely compromising food security. Flooding has damaged more than 2,100 houses and destroyed more than 300, leaving nearly 3,600 families without access to public services. Overcrowding in relatives’ homes and inadequate waste management have increased the risk of tropical and infectious diseases, as well as incidents of violence, including sexual assault. Educational disruptions have impacted more than 47,000 students across 74 educational centres. Humanitarian efforts are ongoing in 27 municipalities, but the situation remains critical. (OCHA, 29 Nov 2024)

Heavy rains continued in December, worsening the humanitarian crisis in municipalities such as Alto Baudó, Medio Baudó, Bojayá, and Quibdó. (OCHA, 3 Feb 2025)

Since 11 February, heavy rainfall has affected more than 19,500 people in three municipalities of the Pacific region of Nariño. The impact has been particularly severe on agricultural, Indigenous, and Afro-descendant communities in Barbacoas, Roberto Payán, and Tumaco. Tumaco has declared a public calamity, with damage to at least 15 educational institutions forcing school closures, affecting some 2,660 students. Across the affected areas, the rains have caused widespread destruction of homes, loss of crops and livelihoods, and restricted access to food, safe water, health, and education. (OCHA, 21 Feb 2025)

Heavy rainfall has been affecting western Colombia, in particular the Quindío department over the last 48 hours, causing flash floods and triggering landslides that have resulted in casualties and damage.

Media report, as of 14 March, one still-missing person, two injured persons, and one destroyed building across the Armenia municipality, central Quindío department. (ECHO, 14 Mar 2025)

Heavy rains resulting in floods have been affecting Itagüí municipality, Antioquia department, northwestern Colombia, resulting in fatalities and damage. As at 5 May, media report at least one fatality, one injured person and more than 35 houses damaged. (ECHO, 06 May 2025)

Severe flooding has affected more than 17,000 people across 19 of the Meta department’s 29 municipalities, or about 65 per cent of the department. In Puerto Lleras alone, flash floods between 4 and 5 May affected 90 per cent of the municipality, affecting more than 8,300 people and requiring coordinated efforts by the Air Force, rescue teams, and disaster management agencies. However, barriers and limited national response have been reported. Nationwide, nearly 70,000 people have been affected by disasters in the past month alone. (OCHA, 09 May 2025)