Pereira (Colombia).- A downpour that fell on Sunday night in Pereira worsened the conditions of the families affected by the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that shook Colombia a week ago and left this city, capital of the Risaralda department, as one of the most affected.
The rain complicated the situation for the people who remain in makeshift shelters after losing their homes, especially in Olaya Herrera Park, one of the main refuge points set up in the city.
During the night, the tents set up by the Mayor’s Office had to be covered with plastic to prevent water from soaking the few belongings that the families were able to save after the earthquake.
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The park floor was also left completely wet, which made conditions even more difficult for those who have to spend the night there while waiting for a housing solution.
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Pereira, impacted by the earthquake, now adds the rains
The rain also affected the San Jorge University Hospital in Pereira, where there was flooding.
Videos shared on social media show leaks and damaged pipes in some areas of the healthcare center, although the extent of the damage caused by the rainfall has not yet been reported.
Pereira was one of the cities hardest hit by the earthquake on August 10, and as of Friday, it had 94 dead, 259 injured, and 140,000 people affected from 41,600 families, according to Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella.
The latest report from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), as of Sunday, places the death toll at 287 nationwide, with 4,147 injured and 194 missing due to the earthquake.
