Heavy rains have left more than 4,000 families homeless in Casanare and approximately 1,000 families displaced in Boyacá [1], [4].

These disasters highlight the vulnerability of rural Colombian infrastructure to extreme weather patterns. The scale of the displacement threatens local food security and requires a massive mobilization of state resources to prevent further loss of life.

Emergency conditions were declared in 13 municipalities within Casanare [2] and across 27 populations in Boyacá [3]. In Boyacá, a severe landslide in Pajarito created a critical risk to the urban center, while Casanare saw significant flooding in areas including San Luis de Palenque.

Local authorities and the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) said the crisis was due to intense precipitation. These weather patterns were associated with the El Niño phenomenon and variable rain cycles, factors that increased the saturation of rivers and the likelihood of landslides.

Humanitarian aid deliveries have begun to reach the affected regions. Families in the hardest-hit zones have called for continued support as they face the loss of their homes and livelihoods.

According to IDEAM, the risk of further landslides remained high during the period of intense rainfall. The agency said these variable patterns could continue to impact large portions of the country, necessitating constant monitoring of river levels and slope stability.

“More than 4,000 families were left homeless in Casanare.”

The convergence of El Niño-driven weather patterns and saturated terrain underscores a systemic risk for Colombia's interior regions. When landslides threaten to erase urban centers from the map, it indicates that current zoning and infrastructure are insufficient for the increasing volatility of the region's climate, suggesting a need for more robust disaster prevention investment.