Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 5 September 2025

KEY FIGURES

• 300 people in temporary shelters as Hurricane Lorena brings heavy rain to Mexico
• 108K people affected due to heavy rainfall in Meta, Colombia
• 3.6M cases of dengue across the Americas as of EW 32

REGIONAL: HURRICANE SEASON

Forecasters are currently tracking multiple active systems across the basins. In the Pacific, Hurricane Lorena continues to bring heavy rain and coastal hazards to Baja California Sur, while Hurricane Kiko remains a major hurricane far offshore, expected to gradually weaken as it tracks west toward the Hawaiian islands. In the Atlantic, a disturbance southwest of Cabo Verde has a high chance (approximately 90%) of developing into Tropical Storm Gabrielle within seven days, with potential to approach the Lesser Antilles around 10 - 11 September depending on its track. Even a moderate system could generate flooding risks in the Leeward Islands, where soils remain saturated from Hurricane Erin. Authorities and regional partners remain on alert and are coordinating preparedness actions as forecasts evolve.

MEXICO: HURRICANE LORENA

Hurricane Lorena, which strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane as it tracked parallel to Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, weakened to a tropical storm on 4 September while bringing torrential rainfall, strong winds and dangerous surf to Baja California Sur. Authorities reported up to 200 mm of rain in Los Cabos and nearly 100 mm in La Paz, triggering landslides, road blockages and localized flooding. As of 4 September, there were 16 temporary shelters housing some 298 people in the municipalities of Los Cabos and Comondú. The government deployed a team of more than 2,800 personnel to conduct various prevention and relief efforts for the affected population. While no major damage, deaths or injuries have been reported so far, authorities warn of continued risk of flash floods and landslides as Lorena moves inland toward central Baja California before dissipating.

COLOMBIA: HEAVY RAINFALL

The ongoing rainy season continues to impact Meta department in Colombia’s Orinoquia region, with severe rainfall affecting approximately 108,000 people and prompting authorities to declare a state of public calamity across 25 of the department’s 29 municipalities. By the end of August, the number of affected people had risen nearly sevenfold compared to late July. Heavy rains, which have affected Meta since February, continue to hinder community recovery efforts. Flooding, landslides and strong winds have damaged homes, infrastructure, livelihoods and subsistence crops. Affected populations also face heightened risk from unsafe water and health outbreaks, with ongoing alerts for yellow fever, dengue, and chickenpox. The Governor’s Office, through the Departmental Office for Disaster Risk Management and in coordination with the National Disaster Risk Management Unit (UNGRD), the private sector, NGOs, and community donations, has delivered more than 21,000 humanitarian aid items to address the urgent needs of the affected families.

REGIONAL: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ALERTS

PAHO has issued alerts urging strengthened surveillance, clinical readiness, and vector-control measures amid ongoing arboviral outbreaks in the Americas. By epidemiological week 32, there were 3.66 million suspected cases of dengue across the region, an overall decline of 69 per cent compared to 2024. Notably, Peru reported a 30 per cent increase in cases compared to the previous four weeks. Chikungunya continues, with 212,000 suspected cases and 110 deaths through week 33, mainly in Brazil. Oropouche virus has also been confirmed in 11 countries, with 12,786 cases and 5 deaths, primarily in Brazil but also in Panama, Peru, Colombia, Cuba and others. PAHO emphasizes early detection, laboratory confirmation, and community-level prevention to mitigate overlapping risks.