More work planned along the Chicama River
The La Libertad regional government will carry out work at 16 additional critical points along the Chicama River in Ascope province, Andina reported. Regional civil defence official Ricardo Lazo Suji said the measures respond to an adverse forecast for rain associated with the El Niño phenomenon.
Lazo said the planned work would be in addition to 52 interventions already completed.
Indeci sets out evacuation guidance
Carlos Pichilingüe, a disaster risk management coordinator at Peru’s National Civil Defence Institute, told RPP Noticias that residents should learn the history of emergencies where they live and know what to do if flooding or a river overflow occurs. He said local government websites and Indeci’s georeferenced Visor platform can be used to find designated temporary shelters and emergency resources. The platform also displays health facilities and temporary helicopter landing points.
Pichilingüe advised residents to monitor official reports. He said Senamhi publishes daily short-term notices covering rainfall, possible activation of ravines and river thresholds, with yellow, orange and red alerts. Indeci’s national emergency operations centre also sends mobile-phone messages through the SISMATE system. A sudden rise in river flow or mud appearing in a ravine can signal an imminent rush of water or a landslide, he added.
For evacuations, Pichilingüe recommended an emergency bag containing water, non-perishable food, warm clothing and first-aid supplies. Families should add items suited to their needs, including medicines for older people, asthma inhalers or pet food. He advised keeping the bag’s weight at no more than eight kilograms so it can be carried during an evacuation.