Colombia's Mass Wasting Hazards

 Colombia's landslides/Mudslides

Colombia experiences mass wasting hazards such as landslides and mudslides. These natural events can pose significant risks to communities and infrastructure. A majority of the landslides that occur in Colombia are in the western region of the country. A devastating landslide that happened in 2017 that occurred on the first of April in Mocoa, Putumayo. Heavy rains are what triggered the flash floods and landslides that killed over  254 people, injured 332, and left 70 missing. Soldiers, police officers, and red cross members worked side by side with the citizens  to try to rescue survivors. Many were left with nothing, their houses and livelihoods were all destroyed. The government has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on temporary housing for those who have lost their house during the devastating landslide. This catastrophe is remembered as the third largest in Colombian history. 
According to an Article called teleSUR it mentions that " Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro announced that his administration set fuel prices and purchased crops from farmers in the Nariño department to mitigate the effects of the recent landslides in such area." This is what the president of Colombia sets to do to reduce landslide impacts. 
 
Resources: https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Colombian-President-Sets-Measures-To-Reduce-Landslides-Impact-20230123-0002.html
https://www.cnn.com/2017/04/02/americas/colombia-mudslide/index.html

Comments

  1. LondynOctober 15, 2023 at 10:16 PM

    Hello Adrian, thank you for not only sharing the history of Columbia's mass wasting disasters and catastrophes, but also the mitigation efforts they put in place to prevent such occurrences. The images you provided helped me follow along with your blog and understand the severity of landslides and mudslides within the country at hand. You said this 2017 catastrophe was noted as the third largest in Columbian history. Do you happen to know what the first and/or second largest ones were? Thank you, again for sharing your research; it was really interesting to read about.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Colombia's Weather

Image
 Colombia's Weather Colombia experiences a variety of extreme weather conditions due to its diverse geography. It can range from tropical rainforests to high altitude mountains, resulting in varying temperatures,  rainfall, and humidity throughout  the country. Colombia's weather can be quite fascinating. In some regions, you'll find hot and humid conditions, especially in the coastal areas. On the other hand, higher altitude areas, like the Andes Mountains, can have cooler temperatures and more frequent rainfall. It's this diversity that adds to the charm and uniqueness of Colombia's climate. In an article called "Colombia Weather" it mentions " Colombia is located near the equator so it does not have extreme variations in temperature, although there is a wet and dry season. The climate changes with the altitude, hotter at sea level and cooler at higher elevations, with some peaks bearing snow year round. Temperatures below 2,953 feet average between...
Read more

‘final hazards report’

Image
Main natural hazards In Colombia Earthquakes Earthquakes occur in Colombia due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is an area of intense seismic activity. Colombia is situated where several tectonic plates meet, including the Nazca plate, the Caribbean Plate, and the South American Plate. The interaction between these plates creates seismic activity, resulting in earthquakes. The subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate is one of the main causes of earthquakes in Colombia. This subduction zone , known as the Colombia-Ecuador Trench, can generate powerful earthquakes. Earthquakes in Colombia are a priority because they pose significant risks to the safety and well-being of the population. Colombia is located in a seismically active region, and earthquakes can occur with varying magnitudes. These seismic events can cause widespread damage to infrastructure, homes, and other buildings, leading to injuries and loss of life. Addressing the earthquake ...
Read more

Colombia Is No Stranger To Earthquakes

Image
  Colombia is no stranger to earthquakes, In 1983 a magnitude of 5.5 earthquake killed around an estimate of 380 people, and injured a further of 2,000 people and left 10,000 people homeless. Then over a decade later, near the city of Armenia anther earthquake hit. This time it was 6.2 magnitude  and it killed about 2,000 people and caused about $1.2 billion in damages.  The Colombian authorities have recognized this threat, and have taken measures to reduce its potential impact. Colombia passed several codes for seismic-resistant buildings. Directives to improve excising construction with the aid of subsidies is another measure, as well as redevelopment initiatives and in some cases even free housing programs.  https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/10/how-colombia-is-preparing-for-its-next-earthquake/
Read more