18:10 | Yurimaguas (Loreto region), Mar. 20.
More than 3,000 houses in seven neighborhoods of the city of Yurimaguas —capital of Alto Amazonas Province (Loreto region)— were flooded due to torrential rain that hit the area for almost three hours early this morning,
Alto Amazonas Province Mayor Hugo Araujo reported on Saturday.
Among the affected neighborhoods and sectors are Pucaloma, 23 de Febrero, Isla de Jair, Independencia, Paraiso, Condamine, Jose Olaya, among others.
According to the mayor, most of the flooded areas are situated next to the Yurimaguas Airport, where there is a storm sewer —of small diameter— at Atunquebrada Ravine that runs through it, which apparently generated a damming of rainwater and the flood that inundated the houses.
Leonardo Inga —a former legislator and neighbor in the locality— agreed with the mayor and recommended that the culvert's diameter be expanded to avoid similar problems in the future.
Flood levels reached up to 2.20 meters in some areas, thus forcing families to move their electrical appliances, furniture, mattresses, wardrobes, and other belongings to the second floor in order to prevent them from being exposed to floodwater.
According to the affected residents, some homes might collapse due to the accumulated moisture that penetrated the structure of walls and floor.
For this reason, they ask municipal and regional governments to help them rebuild their houses and prevent new floods.
(END) ARR/LZD/RMB/MVB
Published: 3/20/2021