Piura: breakage of the La Chira river dam causes alarm for possible flooding

piura it continues to be the region most affected by the ravages of nature. The Torrential rains, increased river flow and floods continue to put the inhabitants of this northern region at risk. On the night of Saturday, April 29, the rupture of a contingency dam of the La Chira river causing surrounding agricultural land to be flooded.

The affected areas are the towns of St. Lawrence Island and the mouthin the districts of Vichayal and Colán, respectively, in the province of Paita, according to the National Institute of Civil Defense. (indeci). However, the risk of flooding in the surrounding areas remains latent, which is why an evacuation alert is in force for the neighboring sectors.

The mayor of Colán, gerardo tavara He maintained that, because the flow of the La Chira river has not yet reached its maximum flow, the level of affectation has only been in agricultural areas, but he expressed concern about the risk of rising water levels, which would affect a higher amount of piurans. “Not much flow has entered, because it is still a little low, that is why it is not entering strongly,” he said in an interview with RPP News.

He pointed out that machinery of the Ministry of Housing and of the regional government of Piura They are in the emergency area to work on the replacement of the dam, taking advantage of the fact that the flow is still low.

The city authority warned that if the force of water increases, the towns of the Island and La Bocana would be flooded in less than one and a half now. In this sense, he indicated that they are already enabling hostels in Pueblo Nuevo and Colán to receive those who are affected.

Through a statement, the regional government of Piura informed about the imminent risk of flooding and urged to take the corresponding prevention measures. “As the high risk of flooding to which the population of the island of San Lorenzo, La Bocana and surroundings is exposed, the COER invokes the mayor of the district municipality of Vichayal and delegated mayors, alert the population and immediately evacuate the families at risk to safe areas, in order to safeguard their lives and health,” he said.

Indeci reported that personnel from the Peruvian Navy, Peruvian National Police and Serenazgo They are deployed in the emergency zone in order to provide the necessary support, security and control. “The Disaster Risk Management Offices of both district municipalities carry out the Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (EDAN-Peru) and coordinate the evacuation of the population as a preventive measure,” he added.

According to the forecast of the National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology of Peru (Senami)the regions of Cajamarca, Piura and Tumbes are on red alert due to the possible occurrence of heavy rain for the next 24 hours.

Ayabaca, Huancabamba, Morropón, Pura, Sullana and Talara are the provinces most exposed to these weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the flow of the Chira river increased to 1018.23 m3/s, reaching the threshold orange, at the Pte. Simón Rodríguez station in the Amotape district. Miramar, Amotape, San Jorge, Rinconada, Paredones, San Felipe de Vichayal, Las Valencias, Tamarindo, Querecotillo, Vichayal, Salitral, Sojo, Marcavelica, Tangarara and Isla San Lorenzo, are the potential areas affected by possible overflows and floods.