Heavy Rains and Winds Cause Damage in Tunja Municipality, Colombia

On Saturday night, Tunja municipality in Boyaca department, Colombia was hit by heavy rains and winds, causing significant damage to at least 37 homes and resulting in the closure of the highway to Bogota. Gustavo Arias, the director of the Municipal Risk Management Unit, stated that the affected neighborhoods were Bello Horizonte, San Lázaro, Altamira, Cojines, and El Dorado. There was detachment of tiles and roof damage, and some people experienced episodes of panic. The health of older adults was also checked with the assistance of firefighters.

In the Tocancipá sector, the river overflowed, leading the authorities to declare the total closure of the Bogota-Tunja road during a long holiday weekend. Tunja Mayor Alejandro Funeme convened the Council of the municipality in an extraordinary way to define administrative measures to attend to the 21 events caused by flooding, loss of roofing in homes, and failures in energy service.

The emergency response teams are working to assess the damage and provide necessary support to the affected families. The Tunja municipality has activated the emergency protocol, and local authorities are coordinating with the regional disaster management teams to provide aid to the affected areas.

This natural disaster is a reminder of the importance of preparedness and prompt response during such situations. The affected families and individuals need immediate assistance, and the government must ensure that all resources are made available to provide them with support. The closure of the highway to Bogota has also caused inconvenience to the travelers, and the authorities must take steps to resume traffic as soon as possible.

The heavy rains and winds in Tunja municipality serve as a warning to other regions to be vigilant during this period of unpredictable weather. The disaster management teams must remain alert and equipped to handle any such emergencies promptly.”