Peru approves new protocols for managing human remains during disasters

The Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM) has officially approved new guidelines for the management and handling of corpses and human remains during emergencies and disasters. Developed by the National Institute of Civil Defense (Indeci), the mandatory protocol aims to standardize response operations across national, regional, and local public entities to ensure technical, sanitary, and biosecurity standards.

The protocol is structured into four sequential phases: planning and identification of collection sites; field actions including localization, coding, and secure transport; forensic identification through scientific expertise; and the formal delivery of remains to families or burial in temporary cemeteries. Key participating institutions include the Public Ministry, Armed Forces, National Police, Ministry of Health, and the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences.

This regulatory measure comes amid warnings regarding the El Niño phenomenon. Forecasts suggest an extraordinary coastal El Niño event through January 2027, with increased rainfall expected in northern and central coastal regions and the northwestern highlands, potentially leading to higher river flows in areas such as Tumbes, Piura, and Rímac.