Attachments
Description of the Event
Date of event
2024-03-26
What happened, where and when?
Between March 16 and 22, Uruguay experienced a series of adverse weather events that have generated serious situations in different regions of the country with consequences such as floods, falling trees, road closures, displacement of people who evacuated their homes and different problems derived from the intense rains, storms and strong winds.
During the afternoon-evening of March 20, the National Meteorological Institute (Inumet) issued a red weather alert, which led to a red alert by the National Emergency System (Sinae) for 18 departments of the country. The Uruguayan Meteorological Institute (Inumet) continued to issue warnings about strong and persistent winds, especially in the south of the country.
On March 21st, the Departmental Emergency Committee, comprised of various governmental bodies and active forces within the Department, officially declared a "Departmental Emergency," in accordance with the constitutional provisions of the Republic and relevant laws. This declaration, endorsed by the Mayor of Florida, mandates the continuation of immediate and essential exceptional measures to address the crisis, with the Committee remaining in continuous session until the situation is resolved. The dissemination of this declaration will be facilitated by the Communications Unit to ensure widespread awareness and coordinate essential actions to confront this unprecedented climate crisis.
On March 26, the National Government, through the director of the National Emergency System (SINAE), formally requested support from the Uruguayan Red Cross to respond to the flooding emergency. Based on initial assessments, support was requested for the procurement and distribution of cleaning and disinfection kits, prevention and mitigation campaigns against dengue, and support for medium-term recovery of affected families.
The departments most heavily impacted by the flooding are Florida, San José, and Canelones, where river overflow has led to the suspension of drinking water supply, affecting water treatment facilities. Meanwhile, in Tacuarembó and Salto, strong winds have inflicted significant damage on homes, personal belongings, family assets, and both rural and urban roads.
Government authorities, in collaboration with emergency agencies, are tirelessly working to provide assistance and coordinate rescue and relief operations for affected individuals. However, the ongoing adverse weather conditions and the saturation of the ground due to the accumulation of water pose persistent challenges. Despite concerted efforts, road closures persist, and approximately 15,000 customers remain without electricity, exacerbating difficulties in accessing and communicating with affected areas.
As per reports and forecasts from the National Institute of Meteorology (Inumet), heavy rainfall is anticipated across the country by the end of this week and into the beginning of the following week (starting March 31).