Flooding in Arauca and Casanare Affects Thousands, Prompts Calamity Declaration

Heavy rains and river overflow have caused severe flooding in the departments of Arauca and Casanare, eastern Colombia, affecting over 9,000 families in Arauca and more than 4,200 families in Casanare. The disasters have led to declarations of calamity, with entire communities isolated and infrastructure destroyed.

What happened

Torrential rains caused the overflow of rivers including the Tocaría, Pauto, Cravo Sur, and Casanare. In Arauca, nine municipalities were impacted, with Arauquita, Saravena, and Tame hit hardest. In Casanare, all 19 municipalities suffered damage; San Luis de Palenque saw up to 90% of its territory flooded. Roads and bridges collapsed, leaving areas cut off from land routes. A bridge over Caño Negro collapsed, and the Puente El Tigre was also compromised. Source: La República, Portafolio, El Tiempo

Agricultural impact

Fedearroz reported that thousands of hectares of rice ready for harvest were destroyed, along with livestock and other crops. The gremio urged the government to provide financial aid, credit lines, and machinery to rebuild irrigation infrastructure. Source: Portafolio Local farmers described losing cattle and entire plantain crops. Source: El Tiempo

Government response

The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) and Invías are assessing damage and installing a military bridge to restore connectivity to Norte de Santander. President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella visited Yopal and committed to sending humanitarian aid: 3,500 mattresses, 6,500 food kits, and other supplies. He also pledged to prioritize the crisis once in office. Governor César Ortiz Zorro requested national funds, stating the recovery exceeds the department's budget. Source: El Tiempo, Portafolio, Infobae