Colombia Declares National Disaster Amid Severe El Nino Drought

The government of Colombia has officially declared a national disaster in response to the imminent arrival and steady intensification of the El Nino phenomenon. According to reports from the Ministry of Housing, City and Territory alongside the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, more than half of the country's population centers face serious threats to their drinking water supply and food security.

Out of 11103 total municipalities across the national territory, 558 areas representing 50. 5 percent currently record a high or very high risk of water shortages.

The unfolding situation remains particularly critical across the Andean, Caribbean, and Pacific regions. Within this broad operational landscape, disaster management authorities have categorized 111 municipalities under maximum criticality levels.

These specific rural zones experience severe infrastructure limitations that hinder the reliable distribution of vital water resources. Administrative bodies continue monitoring climatic developments while coordinating emergency responses to mitigate the widespread infrastructural impact.