After a storm that lasted more than six hours, at least fifteen homes were completely flooded in the Mesitas del Colegio municipality, in the department of Cundinamarca and a few kilometers from Bogotá. Torrential rains arrived there on the night of Wednesday, November 20. The fire commander in the area, Sergeant Carlos Rozo, reported that they caused a stream called Santa Marta to overflow, in addition to the collapse of the sewage system in the urban area, where just over 8,000 people live. Authorities have not reported any deaths or injuries, and have yet to determine the number of families affected. In the videos that citizens shared, several of them are seen trying to walk in water up to their waists against strong currents of water, in addition to furniture and motorcycles floating between the streets.
“The situation requires that action also be taken at the departmental and national level to provide the necessary support to the affected merchants and residents,” asked the mayor, Diego López, on Blu Radio. President Gustavo Petro declared an environmental emergency on November 11, before the arrival of the winter season and the floods in Bogotá, La Guajira and Chocó, and the Government is already seeking 1.7 billion pesos to address the crisis.
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