News Listing

March 03, 2024

Affected country: Argentina
Glide: FL-2024-000027-ARG
In the early hours of 3 March the Capital Department of the Province of Corrientes experienced a deluge of intense and prolonged rainfall, totaling over 300 mm within a span of less than 12 hours. This event set a historical record for the city and resulted in significant impacts in the City of Corrientes, including flooded streets and numerous homes submerged. The flooding affected a vast majority of the community, both in urban and suburban areas. Many households experienced water ingress ranging from 20 cm to 2 meters, even in the urban core. Although approximately 90% of the affected areas have been drained, initial recovery efforts are focused on cleaning, disinfection, and recovering lost belongings, a process expected to take several days in some instances. Particularly vulnerable areas such as the neighborhoods of Ciudades Correntinas, Quintana, Río Paraná, Anahí, La Olla, Ponce, Jardín, San Ignacio, Santa Rita Sur, Esperanza, and Molina Punta continue to face challenges due to geographical location, pre-existing drainage issues, and high levels of vulnerability. In the initial hours of the event, the local emergency response system encountered difficulties reaching affected areas due to the severity of the storm. However, rescue efforts intensified throughout the day, mobilizing more than 2,500 individuals, including municipal personnel, Civil Defense teams, federal forces, civil society organizations, and with support from the Argentine Red Cross. It is estimated that approximately 5,000 people have evacuated voluntarily, with 996 individuals relocated to temporary shelters. Although the number of evacuees has gradually decreased, some individuals still remain in official temporary shelters as of March 7. Meanwhile, many families have begun returning to their homes or seeking accommodation with relatives and neighbors. (IFRC, 18 Mar 2024)


February 28, 2024

Affected country: Peru
Glide: EP-2024-000023-PER
The accumulation of water from the rains and the high temperatures creates a breeding ground for diseases like dengue fever. In fact, the rise of dengue among the population led the Ministry of Health to declare a Health Emergency on 28 February in 20 regions (Supreme Decree Nº004-2024-SA). As of February 24th, the number of cases reached 34,042, more than two times the number of cases in 2023 (+131.7%). The regions with the most cases are La Libertad (6,148), Piura (5,275), Ica (4,645), Ancash (3,766) and Lima (2,899). Children and adolescents infected with dengue are more than 10,000, representing 29.6% of the infected population and 13.6% of the deaths by dengue (6 out of 44). (UNICEF, 8 Mar 2024)


February 27, 2024

Affected country: Pakistan
Glide: FL-2024-000020-PAK
On 27 February, torrential downpours were recorded in Gwadar, submerging several areas, including Gwadar city and Sarabandan. Gwadar district has declared a state of emergency while rescue operations are underway. The Meteorological Department recorded rain across various locations in Balochistan, with Gwadar receiving the highest amount at 58 mm. So far, no casualty has been reported. Continued rain was seen in northern Balochistan and coastal areas until 28 February, which was followed by strong winds and rains, triggering province-wide heavy rains until 2 March. (ECHO, 29 Feb 2024)
Persistent heavy rains since 27 February in northern Balochistan continue to cause damage and casualties. The National Disaster Management Authority reported, 250 houses damaged, three children died, and 21 individuals injured. The emergency continues at the southwestern coast of Balochistan including Gawadar, Jewani, and Ormara. Government authorities, army, and paramilitary are engaged in rescue, relief and dewatering of urban flood water from houses.
The Balochistan government closed schools until 7 March. Assessments are underway to determine the extent of the damage. [...] Sindh also declares emergency in Karachi division and is observing the situation. (ECHO, 1 Mar 2024)
Heavy rainfall and strong winds have been affecting north-western Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and south-western Pakistan, Baluchistan Province over the last 48 hours, causing floods, landslides and several severe weather-related incidents that have resulted in casualties and damage.
Provincial Disaster Management Authorities from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province reported 35 death, 43 injured, 46 houses fully damaged, 346 houses partially damaged, and 15 other infrastructures partially damaged including 2 schools. Provincial Disaster Management Authorities from Balochistan reported 5 deaths, 82 fully damaged houses and 155 partially damaged houses. In addition, the media also reported 50 injured people, around 700 damaged houses and several blocked roads across both Provinces. Some reports from Gwadar districts add 21 persons injured, 5 missing and 300 displaced. In Gilgit Baltistan, heavy rains and snowfall started on the evening of 1 March triggered landslides blocking Karakoram Highway blocking at multiple locations. Rescue operations are underway by the Army and civil armed forces. (ECHO, 5 Mar 2024)
The humanitarian impact is still increasing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, north-western Pakistan following heavy rainfall, and heavy snow. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authorities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (PDMA), the number of fatalities reached 40 people while 62 others have been injured, 80 houses have been destroyed, 554 damaged as well as two schools. (ECHO, 6 Mar 2024)


February 26, 2024

Affected country: Peru
Glide: FL-2024-000022-PER
On February 26th, a National State of Emergency Declaration was issued for 60 days, declaring a Level 4 Emergency due to the impact of heavy rains and flooding in 20 regions. As of March 1st, the National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI) reported 100,551 people affected by the emergencies and 32 dead (including 9 children). More than 42,000 homes, 68 schools and 129 health centers have been affected, are inhabitable or destroyed. (UNICEF)


February 19, 2024

Affected country: Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
Glide: FL-2024-000021-BOL
Heavy rainfall in western Bolivia has resulted in devastating landslides, causing casualties and widespread damage. On 19 February, the National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology (SENAMHI) issued a red alert for three municipalities in La Paz and an orange alert for 279 municipalities across nine departments due to persistent rain and the risk of flooding. (OCHA, 23 Feb 2024)
On 28 February, the municipality of Cobija, in northwestern Bolivia, declared a state of emergency due to intense rainfall, causing the overflowing of the Acre River. The flooding left 14 communes underwater, forcing 570 families to seek refuge in six shelters. The ongoing rainy season, exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon, has claimed 40 lives and affected over 15,000 families, nationwide. The National Meteorological Service has issued an orange weather alert for rains and thunderstorms in La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Beni and Pando. (OCHA, 01 Mar 2024)
On 4 March 2024, the Bolivia Ministry of Defense published updated information on the severe rains affecting the country. Nine departments are under an orange alert, and the department of Pando has declared a departmental disaster. A red alert is in effect for three municipalities in the department of Pando and 21 municipalities in the department of La Paz. A municipal disaster has been declared for 18 municipalities and a municipal emergency has been declared in ten municipalities in the country. In total, 26,729 families have been affected, 43 deaths were reported, 483 homes were affected, and 842 homes destroyed, the majority of which were in the department of La Paz. In addition, 5,542 people were evacuated, the majority of which were in Pando. (PAHO, 04 Mar 2024)


February 02, 2024

Affected country: Comoros
Glide: EP-2024-000014-COM
Following confirmed tests, the Comoros Ministry of Health declared a cholera epidemic on Friday, February 2, 2024, at 8 p.m. local time. A Cholera Treatment Center (CTC) has been activated in Samba to treat cholera cases (hospital on the outskirts of Moroni). This has been confirmed by the Dar Es Alam Laboratory and reaffirmed by the Comoros Ministry of Health. The spread of cholera is progressing steadily. The first locally transmitted cases appeared on Monday, February 5, 2024. As of February 11, a total of 33 cases were confirmed (13 being treated in the CTC, and two deaths registered from Grande Comores). (IFRC, 20 Feb 2024)


January 30, 2024

Affected country: Ecuador
Glide: FL-2024-000015-ECU
Heavy rainfall has been affecting northern and western Ecuador, in particular Esmeraldas, Manabí and Los Rios Provinces since 30 January, causing floods that have resulted in population displacement and damage.
According to the WHO/PAHO, the Ecuadorian Government and media, as of 2 February, more than 3,100 people have been affected across Esmeraldas, Manabí and Los Rios Provinces. In addition, more than 800 damaged houses and over 200 assisted people by national authorities were reported in the Esmeraldas Province. (ECHO, 2 Feb 2024)


January 27, 2024

Affected country: Colombia
Glide: DR-2024-000013-COL
On 27 January 2024, by Decree No. 037, the Government of Colombia declared a National Disaster Situation for a period of 12 months, due to the impact of the "El Niño" phenomenon, which is a climate variability phenomenon that occurs every two to seven years due to the warming of the Pacific Ocean ... The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD, by its initials in Spanish), through Circular 065 of 18 December 2023, sent to the territories and other members of the National Disaster Risk Management System the guidelines for the preparation and readiness for the events under the influence of the "El Niño" phenomenon 2023-2024, where it is indicated that excess and deficit of precipitation may occur depending on the territory, generating water shortages for aqueducts, mass movements, water shortages for crops, floods, water shortages for animals, gales, forest fires, torrential floods, frosts, river erosion, among others. (IFRC, 10 Feb 2024)

January 26, 2024

Affected country: Chile
Glide: WF-2024-000010-CHL
Wildfires have been burning across parts of central Chile, particularly in the regions of Valparaíso, O’Higgins and Maule resulting in casualties and damage. According to the Chilean National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (SENAPRED), at least 112 people have died following the wildfires. The worst-hit area is Complejo las Tablas- Reserva Lago Peñuelas where at least 8,500 ha have burnt. In addition, media report 200 missing people in and around Viña del Mar City (Valparaíso). The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMSR715) was activated in rapid mapping mode on 4 February to provide the damage assessment and one map has been published so far. For the next 48 hours, according to the JRC Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS), the fire danger forecast is from moderate to extreme over central and north-western Chile. (ECHO, 5 Feb 2024)

January 26, 2024

Affected country: Lebanon
Glide: CW-2024-000007-LBN
Lebanon and the eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea are currently affected by a low depression accompanied by polar winds, leading
to a noticeable drop in temperatures and unstable weather conditions since the start of the winter. From 24 to 29 January 2024, the Met
Services released a statement about the escalation of the depression, accompanied by a mass cold wave forming Storm Daniella which led
to snowfall with peak impact on 26 January 2024. The storm also caused heavy rainfalls across the country with severe winds and
snowfall. There was a heavy decline in the temperature, reaching subzero degrees in mountainous areas and 3 degrees in Bekaa.
This storm impacted several governorates in Lebanon specifically mountainous areas in Bekaa, Mount Lebanon, North and South regions.
The cold wave has impacted the affected communities in varying degrees. (IFRC, 2 Feb 2024)