Department of Loreto urges central government to declare state of emergency due to severe flooding

More than 7,890 families in Peru’s jungle department of Loreto have been affected by heavy rains and flooding, causing local authorities to urge the central government to declare a state of emergency. “A state of emergency would facilitate the purchase of materials, and we would get additional help from the government,” Regional Civil Defense Secretary, [...]

Major highways collapse because of heavy rains in Peru’s Amazon region

Heavy rain in Peru’s Amazon region have caused various segments of the Fernando Belaunde Highway to collapse, leaving the Department of San Martín and thousands of people stranded, daily Peru21 reported Tuesday.

Senamhi: Amazon River level at record high

The Amazon River, South America’s largest, has reached its highest level since Peru’s National Meteorology and Hydrology Institute, or Senamhi, began keeping records near its source, daily El Comercio reported  Wednesday. The river topped 118.34 meters on April 15, which is 1.14 meters more than what Senamhi documented as being the highest level recorded. As [...]

Flooding threatens Kotosh temple

The director of Peru’s National Institute of Culture, INC, in Huánuco Department says possible flooding of the Higueras River due to heavy rains threatens to damage the Kotosh archaeological temple, considered one of the oldest temples in the Americas. Carlos Ortega told Agencia Andina there is a high risk the side of the archaeological temple [...]

Almost half a million affected by rains

The number of people affected by heavy rains since the beginning of 2008 has increased to almost half a million, the head of Peru’s National Institute for Civil Defense, Luis Palomino, was reported saying. According to Agencia Andina, Palomino said the number includes some people who are affected short term through the flooding of their [...]

Peruvian civil defense rushes aid to thousands hit by heavy rains and flooding

The National Institute for Civil Defense, Indeci, has provided more than 108 tons of goods to help some 45,000 people in Peru as torrential rains continue to cause havoc throughout the country. About half way through the rainy season, the storms have caused floods and landslides, or “huaycos” as they are known in Peru, that [...]