Peru’s Piura braces for return of El Nino

Peru's northern city of Piura is preparing for the return of El Nino, a weather phenomenon that is expected to be stronger than ever this time. Water marks from previous disasters still cling to the city's walls, prompting residents to take precautionary measures. With torrential rain forecasted for November, Piura's 600,000 residents are working to avert the worst effects of flooding.

Many have shifted to higher ground, such as Sara Castillo, an 83-year-old retiree who now lives on the second floor of her home. Castillo, who has experienced the devastation of previous El Nino events, recalls the catastrophic 1983 incident that claimed 512 lives directly and 8,500 indirectly in Peru. A brain infection contracted by her niece, resulting from contaminated water after the 1983 flooding, is still a haunting reminder of the aftermath.

Municipal workers are diligently clearing the excess earth from the Piura River, but the task is monumental given the potential for a deluge if the waterway overflows. The city's drainage system is clogged, contributing to the heightened risk of flooding. A community leader in the Santa Margarita neighborhood laments the lack of action, saying, "In the rainy season, everything is a river."

Piura's mayoral office has only allocated 36.8% of its budget for disaster risk reduction, and Mayor Francisco Cevallos attributes the delay to procurement issues. Over 800 of Peru's 1,800 municipalities have declared a state of emergency due to the imminent danger posed by El Nino, while another 600 are on alert due to droughts that could impact food supplies.

President Keiko Fujimori has pledged to prioritize El Nino preparations following her July inauguration, announcing US$41 million to clean up the region's rivers. However, hydrology expert Marina Farias at the University of Piura warns that mitigation efforts are essential; simply cleaning up won't suffice. The more critical task, she emphasizes, is preemptively diverting water flows into the surrounding desert.