2017 Mocoa landslide

Coordinates: 1°09′0″N 76°38′51″W / 1.15000°N 76.64750°W / 1.15000; -76.64750
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

2017 Mocoa landslide
2017 Mocoa landslide is located in Colombia
Mocoa
Mocoa
2017 Mocoa landslide (Colombia)
Date1 April 2017
Time≈03:00 COT (UTC−05:00)
LocationMocoa, Colombia
Coordinates1°09′0″N 76°38′51″W / 1.15000°N 76.64750°W / 1.15000; -76.64750
TypeLandslide, flash flood
Deaths336
Non-fatal injuries332
Missing70

The Mocoa landslide was a natural disaster that took place in 2017. During the pre-dawn hours of 1 April 2017, locally heavy rain triggered flash flooding and landslides in the city of Mocoa, Putumayo, Colombia, killing at least 336 people, injuring 400, and leaving 200 others missing.[1] It is the third-deadliest weather-related disaster in Colombian history,[2] and is regarded as the worst catastrophe in the history of Mocoa.[3]

Background

Situated in the

deadly floods in Peru and Ecuador.[6] The rainy season in Colombia typically begins in mid-March and continues through mid-June. March 2017 proved unusually wet, with areas around Mocoa receiving 150 percent the average monthly rainfall.[2]

Disaster

Debris left behind along a previously swollen river in Mocoa

On 31 March, 2017, moist tropical air from the Atlantic Ocean flowed west across the

GOES-13 depicted cloud tops of −90 °C (−130 °F), indicating the storms were capable of producing torrential rain. With the system moving perpendicular to tall mountains, orographic influence likely enhanced rainfall and further contributed to the subsequent disaster.[2] According to residents, the rain became particularly intense between 11:00 p.m. and 1 a.m. local time.[4] A total of 130 millimetres (5.1 in) of rain fell during the event, largely within a few hours.[citation needed] This caused the Mocoa, Sangoyaco and Mulato rivers to overflow and send mudflows towards residences and infrastructure in the city of Mocoa by 3:00 a.m.[7]

Neighborhoods built along the banks of the aforementioned rivers were completely devastated.[8] Numerous poorly constructed homes were leveled, and large portions of the city were left buried in several feet of mud.[4] The disaster adversely affected 17 of the city's neighborhoods, with the mayor of Mocoa, José Antonio Castro, stating some areas "[had] basically been erased".[9] The Independencia neighborhood was entirely destroyed.[10] Approximately 45,000 people were directly affected throughout the city.[11]

At least 329 people are known to have died in the disaster.[1][8] An additional 332 were injured and a further 70 were missing.[1] At least 22 of the injured were in a "delicate health situation" and transferred to Neiva.[8] Another 21 victims were flown to Popayán.[12]

Aftermath

Rescuers combed piles of debris for potential survivors

President Juan Manuel Santos declared a state of emergency and stated that his "heart and the hearts of all Colombians are with the victims of this tragedy."[13] More than 1,100 soldiers and police officers deployed to assist in search and rescue efforts.[4] Santos labeled the incident "a disaster caused by nature, by climate change."[14] A temporary morgue was established to handle the large number of deceased.[15] The Colombian Red Cross activated its National Crisis Room in response to the disaster and deployed a team of 47 people to assist in recovery.[16] Hospitals in the city were overwhelmed with the influx of patients, and much of the area was left without power and water.[10]

By 2 April, more than 2,500 personnel — including 1,400 soldiers and 800 police officers — were scouring debris for survivors. The army provided 63 vehicles, 10 helicopters, 7 boats, and 6 planes for the rescue operation.[8] Médecins Sans Frontières deployed an assessment team to the affected area on 2 April.[17]

Around 400 members of the rebel group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia offered to help rebuild Mocoa, but required approval from the government of Colombia to do so.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Podlaha, Adam; Bowen, Steve; Darbinyan, Claire; Lörinc, Michal. "Global Catastrophe Recap - April 2017" (PDF). Aon Benfield Analytics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Jeff Masters (3 April 2017). "Meteorology of Saturday's Colombian Flood Disaster That Killed 254". Weather Underground. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  3. ^ Justicia (2 April 2017). "La avalancha que provocó la peor catástrofe en la historia de Mocoa". El Tiempo. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
    - Ben Fox and Alba Tobella and SIR XD (5 April 2017). "Years of Warnings, But No Action Proceeded Deadly Floods in Colombia". Time. Archived from the original on 9 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d "Colombia landslide leaves over 150 dead in Putumayo province". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  5. ^ "Why is South America being hit by deadly landslides?".
  6. ^ "Flooding, Mudslides Kill Nearly 200 in Colombia". Voice of America News. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  7. ^ Colombia – Avalancha e inundaciones en Mocoa (Putumayo) Flash Update No. 1 (01/04/17) (PDF). ReliefWeb (Report) (in Spanish). 1 April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017. {{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
    - "Tragedia en Mocoa: "Eran las 3:00 a.m. cuando sintieron el remezón y la naturaleza los arrastró"". El País (in Spanish). 1 April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d "Tragedia en Mocoa: van 254 muertos y centenares de heridos por avalancha". Semana (in Spanish). 2 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Colombia landslide kills more than 150, injures dozens: local police". Australian Broadcasting Corporation News. April 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  10. ^ a b Los equipos de Acción contra el Hambre se movilizan en Mocoa tras inundaciones y avalanchas que han provocado 127 muertes (Report) (in Spanish). ReliefWeb. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017. {{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  11. ^ "Tragedia de Mocoa deja hasta ahora 254 muertos y 45.000 damnificados". Noticias Caracol (in Spanish). Agence-France-Presse. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  12. ^ "En Popayán son atendidos 21 heridos en tragedia de Mocoa". El Tiempo (in Spanish). 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  13. ^ "Colombia landslides: Over 200 die in Putumayo floods". BBC News. April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  14. ^ Brocchetto, Marilia; Ramos, Fernando; Sanchez, Ray (2 April 2017). "Colombia mudslides kill more than 200". CNN. Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  15. ^ "More than 250 killed in Colombia in flooding, swept away as they slept". CBC News. The Associated Press. 2 April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  16. ^ Media alert: Red Cross responds to deadly landslide in Colombia (Report). ReliefWeb. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017. {{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  17. ^ Colombia: Assessing the needs after landslides in Mocoa (Report). ReliefWeb. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017. {{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  18. ^ "Colombia landslide: Farc rebels offer to help rebuild town". BBC News. 3 April 2017. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
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