Peru: Rains have left 54 people dead so far in 2026

11:25 | Lima, Mar. 6.

So far this year, intense rains and their consequences have caused the deaths of 54 people, National Civil Defense Institute (Indeci) Chief Luis Vasquez reported.

Of these cases, 10 deaths were registered in Apurimac region, seven in Arequipa, and the same number in Cusco, while six were recorded in Junin, he specified.

Regarding the damaging impact of rains and flooding so far in 2026, Vasquez said the regions most affected are Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, Cajamarca, and Arequipa.

Emergencies in rural areas

Emergencies reported by Indeci's National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) this year total 3,042.

Most of them (986) were recorded in Cajamarca, followed by Huancavelica (271), Arequipa (266), Ayacucho (263), and Apurimac (227).

The Indeci chief specified that 1,892 of these emergencies were caused by heavy rains.

In statements to Andina News Agency, Vasquez said the most noticeable emergencies have occurred in urban areas of Arequipa. Meanwhile, those recorded in Cajamarca affected remote hamlets and rural areas, so they have not been as striking as those in the White City.

"Attention has focused on Arequipa because it involved a torrent channel that had not been activated for many years and that has caused a major social impact," he pointed out.

In total, the rains have left 13,917 disaster victims and 139,233 affected, the Indeci head reported.

Regarding housing in the emergency areas, 946 homes have been destroyed and 5,241 were left uninhabitable.

Statistics from Indeci and the National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) indicate that 36 school classrooms have been destroyed, as have 85 health facilities.

Regarding livestock and agriculture, 15,183 animals were lost and 1,144 hectares of crops suffered the same fate.