Heavy rainfall across Peru has triggered widespread flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage, impacting regions from Tumbes in the north to Tacna in the south, authorities reported Friday. Arequipa, Ica, and Lambayeque are among the hardest-hit areas, with reports of fatalities and hundreds of families displaced.
In Arequipa, torrential rains have overwhelmed drainage systems, causing torrenteras – steep-sided gullies – to overflow and inundate residential areas. Exitosanoticias.pe reported that the storms have led to power and water outages, as well as the destruction of roads. At least one death has been confirmed in the region, with local authorities appealing for urgent assistance to cope with the scale of the damage.
The situation is equally critical in Ica, where a mudslide on the Pan-American South Highway near kilometer 332 partially blocked traffic in both directions, according to Diariouno.pe. Another mudslide in the Tingue annex of the Yauca del Rosario district has isolated hundreds of families in the Molletambo and Huarangal sectors. The Peruvian National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) has warned of increasing river levels and the potential for further huaicos – landslides composed of rock, mud, and debris.
Lambayeque is also grappling with severe flooding, particularly in the Olmos district, and the overflow of the Motupe River. The regional government has dispatched humanitarian aid, machinery, and personnel to assist affected populations and prevent further damage, as reported by Diariouno.pe. Activation of quebradas, or ravines, has resulted in road collapses and disruptions to essential services.
The National Meteorological and Hydrological Service of Peru (Senamhi) has issued warnings that the heavy rains will continue through February 23rd, extending the period of heightened risk across the coastal regions. Experts suggest the current precipitation patterns are indicative of a transition phase towards the onset of the Coastal El Niño phenomenon, expected to fully develop in March.
As of Friday evening, La Republica reported that more than 500 districts nationwide are considered at risk. The Sutran, Peru’s road transport authority, has issued advisories regarding road closures and restrictions due to the adverse weather conditions. The government has not yet issued a national state of emergency, but regional authorities are requesting additional resources to manage the ongoing crisis.
The Ministry of Health has deployed medical teams to the affected areas to provide assistance and monitor for potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases. Petacc, a government agency, is reinforcing vulnerable points along the Ica River to mitigate the risk of further flooding, according to diariocorreo.pe.
