Lima, March 13: Peru has declared a state of emergency in 283 districts to mitigate the severe risks posed by heavy rainfall and to address its impacts on public safety.
According to several orders published in the government gazette on Thursday, this emergency measure will be in effect for 60 calendar days across 20 regions, including Lima, Amazonas, Ancash, Cusco, and Arequipa.
During the emergency period, regional and local governments will implement urgent and necessary extraordinary measures and actions for disaster response and rehabilitation of affected areas, in coordination with the National Civil Defense Institute and various ministries.
Ministers have also been deployed to various affected regions to directly oversee response and relief efforts. Health brigades will be activated to provide first aid, mental support, and humanitarian assistance to the impacted population.
The Xinhua News Agency reported that Peru’s armed forces have also deployed specialized personnel to assist with rehabilitation and logistics, working in coordination with the national police.
The country’s health ministry has reported that at least 41 people have died due to the rainy season since the beginning of the year, with one person still missing. An official statement indicated that 56 individuals have been injured, of which 48 have been discharged from the hospital, while seven remain hospitalized. On February 25, the Peruvian government declared a 60-day state of emergency in various regions due to the imminent threat of heavy rainfall.
The intense rainfall has caused widespread damage in southern Peru, affecting 5,500 homes and forcing many residents to relocate to safer areas.
Heavy rainfall in Peru is primarily attributed to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, which warms coastal waters, increases atmospheric moisture, and triggers intense seasonal rainfall. This is often exacerbated by warm, moist air from the Amazon Basin colliding with the Andes mountains and the impacts of recent climate change.
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