Heavy rain has caused devastation in the Cauca Department of Colombia over the past few days, leaving hundreds of families affected by flooding and landslides in several municipalities.

On 24 March 2023, the Quilichao River broke its banks in Santander de Quilichao, causing flooding that affected over 500 families and resulted in one fatality. Caloto also experienced flooding on the same day after the El Palo River overflowed.

Landslides were reported in La Vega and Jambalo municipalities on 24 March, affecting a total of 95 people and damaging 10 homes.

The situation worsened on 27 March when severe flash floods hit Suarez Municipality. The heavy downpour caused several streams to overflow and resulted in flooding in around 13 neighborhoods. Over 1,600 buildings were damaged, including two schools, with 250 buildings severely damaged and 10 destroyed.

Disaster response teams, including the police, military, fire departments, and disaster agencies, are working tirelessly to assist over 1,000 affected families. The situation remains critical, and authorities are closely monitoring the weather conditions.

The Cauca Department has been hit hard by heavy rains and floods in recent years, and residents are calling for urgent action to mitigate the impact of natural disasters in the region.