The Impact of El Niño in Perú – 1 April 1998

Situation

According to reliable press information sources, the unusual weather conditions, caused by El Niño, has so far claimed 296 lives, injured 730 people and affected approximately 325,400 inhabitants. Furthermore, 28301 houses, 811 schools, 598 health posts and 54,035 hectares of farmland have been destroyed. Regarding transport more than 8000 kilometres of road and approximately 90 bridges have been destroyed leaving some villages isolated for more than 30 days.

According to the Peruvian Multi-sectorial Committee of the Study of the Phenomenon El Niño, the devastating impact of El Niño has not come to and end yet, as heavy rains will continue until June.

On the 20^th of March 1998, two earthquakes ocurred in Perú. The first earthquake took place 60 km south-west from Lima at 06:02 local time. It lasted for six seconds and was measured to be 4.7 on Richter scale. The second earthquake was located 260 kilometros north-west from Tumbes (frontier with Ecuador), measured 4.5 on Richter scale and happened at 21:19 local time. There were no serious damages.

After the collapse of one of the main bridges over the Piura River (City of Piura: 1000 km north from Lima) on the 16^th of March, rescue teams have been searching for approximately 20 victims who disappeared when the bridge collapsed. The Piura River reached a flow of more than 2.300 m³ per second. However, on 23 March its flow was 960 m³ per second.

Floods and collapses of bridges have also resulted in the destruction of water supply systems in Talara, Los Organos, Lobitos , and Mancoro, departament of Piura, leaving more than 140,000 people without potable water.

Floods and landslides continue to occur in the Department of Lambayeque. In Chiclayo, two high transmission power towers were destroyed by the floods of the Reque River. In addition, four persons lost their lives and seven were injured when a landslide occurred in the District of Salas. In the districts of Illimo, Pacora, Mórrope and Túcume, the Leche River swelled once more affecting 7,858 people and destroying 933 houses and around 350 hectareas of cultivated land.

In the Province of Bolognesi, Department of Ancash, 102 inhabitants were affected and 180 hectareas of farmland destroyed when landslides hit the area.

The Province of La Convención, Department of Cusco, experienced a new lanslide making the rehabilitation of the Machu Piccho Hydropower station even more difficult. (Due to landslides and floods the power station was completely covered by mud at the beginning of March).

Another landslide occurred in the Department of Arequipa, affecting approximately 269 families in San Juan de Churunga, destroying 58 houses and damaging partially another 211 houses.

Landslides and floods also continue to hit the Department of Cajamarca causing destruction of houses, crops and roads. Due to torrential rains a lake of one million m³ has been driven into a pool in the highlands which may relcase a landslide anytime.

National Response

The Peruvian Govermment continues to provide direct assistance to the victims through the distribution of tents, clothing, blankets, food, medicines and tools. In addition, heavy equipment is being provided for rehabilitation of roads and bridges. Approximately 10,000 soldiers of the Peruvian Army, together with the Civil Defence officers, are continuosly at work in the emergency zones.

Recently, the Peruvian Goverment has imitiated the process of elaborating an inventory of all the incidences caused by El Niño including damages, losses and an estimation of the rehabilitation costs.

The impact of El Niño has affected not only the agricultural sector including the agricultural industry, roads and bridges, but has also destroyed houses and infrastructure and has had a negative impact on the fishery industry which is one of the most important income sources of the country.