Millions of Colombians face grave danger from floods and landslides caused by climate change

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Rescue workers survey an area where a landslide destroyed several homes in Manizales, Caldas, Colombia. At least eleven people were killed and 20 are missing after heavy rains caused landslides in this mountainous region of Colombia, a country which is vulnerable to climate change. Photo: EPA

Published: 3:07am, 26 Apr 2017

Climate change has put nearly 12 million Colombians at risk from natural disasters like flooding and landslides, which could kill hundreds and cause serious infrastructure damage, the environment minister said on Tuesday.

Recent heavy rains have endangered residents in dozens of towns and cities, especially in neighbourhoods of makeshift construction on deforested slopes of the Andes mountains. Deadly avalanches and flooding in the cities of Mocoa and Manizales killed more than 330 people this month.

At-risk cities in the Andean country, which has a population of 49 million, are typically located along riverbeds or in mountainous areas, Environment Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo said in an interview.

Rescue workers remove the body of a victim where a landslide destroyed several homes in Manizales, Caldas, Colombia. Climate is putting 12 million Colombians at risk of floods and landslides. Photo: EPA

Disaster prevention efforts include relocation of high-risk neighbourhoods and construction of retaining walls to hold back landslides, Murillo said.

“Colombia is very vulnerable to phenomena of extreme climate variability and climate change,” Murillo said, adding that around 500 municipalities are constantly in medium or high alert for flood and landslide risks.