Infrastructure and transit disruptions reported in Peru and Colombia

In Peru, Provías Nacional has identified approximately 80 bridges requiring preventive attention to mitigate risks from the El Niño phenomenon. Estuardo Tello, director of Road Management at Provías Nacional, stated that an approved plan is in place to manage potential emergencies across the national road network. The agency manages roughly 29,000 kilometers of roads, with 90 million soles allocated in the early months of the year for maintenance, machinery, and emergency response. Recent heavy rains in southern Peru have already caused disruptions, including mudslides and landslides on the Costanera and Panamericana Sur highways, necessitating heavy machinery deployment to restore transit.

In Colombia, a blockade on the Barranquilla-Santa Marta highway was lifted following an order from President Abelardo de la Espriella. The protest, centered at the Puente de La Barra in Puebloviejo, was initiated by local residents protesting a four-day lack of electricity. The blockage caused significant traffic congestion for cars, trucks, and buses. The situation was resolved through coordination between the presidency, the Ministry of Mines, and the Magdalena Governorate to establish dialogue and address the energy supply issues.