Colombia has declared a 30-day state of emergency following catastrophic flooding that has killed at least 18 people and displaced thousands of families in the country’s northern cattle belt.
The emergency decree, issued Wednesday, empowers President Gustavo Petro to take special measures to confront the crisis, including allocating funds directly to affected departments without congressional approval.
The flooding, triggered by overflowing rivers and a breached dam, has submerged entire communities in Córdoba, one of the hardest-hit departments.
Authorities say more than 150,000 residents have been affected as rising waters engulfed homes, farmland and critical infrastructure.
Officials confirmed that more than 4,300 homes have been destroyed, while vast expanses of grazing and agricultural land remain underwater.
The disaster has also dealt a heavy blow to the livestock sector, with at least 1,200 cattle reported dead, according to the cattle ranchers’ association.
Colombia’s disaster relief agency had initially reported 22 deaths nationwide on Monday but later revised the figure downward to 18.
The declaration of emergency underscores the scale of the humanitarian and economic toll in the region, where livestock farming is a major driver of local livelihoods.
Authorities say rescue, relief and recovery efforts are ongoing as communities grapple with widespread displacement and mounting losses.
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