Authorities in Boyacá, Atlántico, and Santander issued alerts following intense rainfall that threatened river overflows and infrastructure stability in late May 2026 [1].

The weather patterns have created critical risks for thousands of residents, forcing the closure of major transport arteries and placing hundreds of families in immediate danger of displacement.

In the department of Santander, more than 60 municipalities are currently under yellow, orange, or red alerts due to the risk of landslides and rising river levels [2]. Of these, 12 municipalities have been placed under red alert, the highest level of warning [2]. The severity of the situation led authorities to completely close a major transversal highway in the region to prevent accidents caused by flood risks [1].

In Boyacá, emergency management agencies are closely monitoring the Cusiana River in the municipality of Pajarito [1]. Local officials said that hundreds of families are currently at risk if the river overflows [4].

The impact extended to the coast in Atlántico, where the city of Barranquilla and surrounding municipalities reported storm damage [1]. These areas faced a combination of severe wind-driven storms and heavy precipitation that battered urban infrastructure.

On a national scale, the national meteorological institute, known as IDEAM, is maintaining 173 hydrological alerts [3]. These alerts track the stability of river basins and the likelihood of further flooding across various Colombian departments.

Local emergency agencies continue to monitor the regions as the risk of further landslides remains high. The coordinated response involves local governments and national meteorological experts to manage evacuations and road repairs as the weather stabilizes [1].

“More than 60 municipalities in Santander are under alert for rains, landslides, and rising rivers.”

The simultaneous triggering of alerts across three distinct geographic regions—the Andean highlands of Boyacá, the interior of Santander, and the coastal Atlántico—indicates a widespread climatic event rather than isolated storms. The high number of national hydrological alerts suggests a systemic vulnerability in Colombia's river basin management during peak precipitation periods, which complicates logistics and emergency response for the government.