On Sunday May 8 the Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos confirmed the worst is yet to come regarding the climatic phenomenon of La Nina in this country. Colombia, despite enjoying three relatively calm, rain-free three days in the interior of the country, is due to suffer increased rainfall in the coming days that should, according to IDEAM (Instituto de Hidrología, Meteorología y Estudios Ambientales de Colombia) continue into the month of June.
The IDEAM, the Colombian equivalent of the UK’s Met Office, has declared a Red Alert for all Andean departments which are at increased risk from landslides and for the flood plains near to the Magdalena, Cauca, Bogota and Meta rivers.
Floods Threaten Farm Land
What does mean for the under-threat districts in and around the Colombian capital of Bogota? Spirits will have risen amongst farmers and smallholders in the fertile and normally productive Sabana de Bogota thanks to a few days of respite from the eternal rain. But, now with news of further deluges and an extended winter into June, these businesses and inhabitants will be thinking seriously about having to abandon their farms for the worst periods.
Only last week the River Bogota burst its banks and virtually collapsed the whole transit system around the towns of Chia, Cota, Suba and Zipaquira. The waters, which covered the highway into Bogota and a large number of homes, have dropped somewhat but still remain at a critical level. Indeed, Lake Fuquene has grown considerably in recent weeks, swallowing with it much land normally given over to horticultural cultivation – a key export industry in Colombia.
El Dorado Airport Under Duress
And it is not only the agricultural industry that is feeling the floods. Bogota’s international airport, El Dorado, has had to close one runway since the drainage canals nearby are now full to capacity. The district of Fontibon, nearest to the southern runway, has suffered flooding from the River Bogota and until an effective barrier can be built and put into place, the nation’s key airport will be down to one runway. There are fears that the whole process could delay up to two weeks.
And what of Bogota’s much maligned expansion work that has resulted in the Mayor’s suspension from office? With increased rains, work on the new lanes for the Transmilenio bendy bus system that run from the colonial center to the airport have yet become a further boggy example of poor workmanship and bureaucratic wrangling. La Nina will doubtless delay these works further.
Richard McColl - I am a freelance writer from deepest darkest London but for the past 10 years or so I have been maintaining my extended "writing break" in ...
