Peru, state of emergency in almost three quarters of the country due to El Niño

The government of Peru has declared a state of emergency for 60 days in almost three-quarters of the country's districts due to the risk of exceptional rainfall and floods linked to the El Niño climate phenomenon.

This was reported by the main local media. The measure, adopted by the administration of President Keiko Fujimori, affects localities in all 25 administrative regions and requires urgent interventions by national, regional and local authorities.

The decision was motivated by the insufficient capacity of regional governments to deal with the emergency independently.

According to authorities, warming Pacific waters increase the risk of intense rainfall, river flooding and mud and debris flows, known locally as "huaicos". The most critical situations are recorded in the northern regions of Tumbes and Piura, where rainfall has already caused flooding and forced some residents to evacuate. In the southern Andes and the Amazon basin, however, serious water shortages persist.