COEN: Impact of El Niño was much lower than expected

Con la información de: Andina.com.pe

So far, the impact of El Niño on the northern coast of the country, manifested through heavy rains, was significantly lower than expected, said the Coordinator of the Center for National Emergency Operations (COEN), Miguel Yamasaki.,es

In statements to Andina Radio on line, Yamasaki Koizumi said the impact registered as a result of heavy rains, overflowing rivers and streams, and mudslides, representing 30 percent of the estimated damage by El Niño.

“El impacto es menor a lo esperado y eso se debe al trabajo de preparación que realizó el Gobierno conjuntamente con los gobiernos regionales y locales que priorizaron las labores de descolmatación y limpieza del cauce de los ríos y quebradas”He said.

He cited the case of Piura Piura where the river flow increased in the first week of March to reach 1,500 cubic meters per second. "Overflows were recorded, but in agricultural areas, there was no overflow in the city, thanks to prevention works. The preparation work had its effects," he stressed.

He considered that this result of the coordinated work also provided scientific institutions and the population was prepared through drills that were organized last year. "These activities contributed because people know what to do, where the safe areas were located, what the evacuation routes were".

Later, Yamasaki gave an account of the damage caused by rains, floods and landslides in the northern coast, where Piura was the most affected region. He argued that according to the report of local authorities in Piura 3,646 and 26,740 victims were reported affected. It was also reported 721 houses collapsed and 6,104 affected.

Meanwhile, in the Tumbes region 179 victims and affected 10,800 were reported.

With respect to the south of the country, the specialist reported that the rains in recent weeks helped restore water reserve that was threatened by the lack of rain in the first months of the year.

"At the beginning of the year there were no rains in the south and that was the impact of the El Niño Phenomenon, but fortunately that changed in recent weeks when rains were recorded, with this agricultural producers ensure water for the dry season," he said.