Piura officials warn delayed El Niño flood defenses threaten residents

Deputy Eduardo Castillo of Peru's Fuerza Popular said the permanent flood‑control works in Piura cannot be finished within the next four months, noting that the projects were supposed to start years ago. He blamed the previous administration for the lack of progress, warning that unfinished works increase the risk of severe flooding during the upcoming El Niño season. Castillo highlighted the government's recent allocation of 140 million soles for de‑watering operations and the deployment of machinery, and praised the presence of party leader Keiko Fujimori, who has tasked the Agriculture and Defense ministries with leading the effort.

A separate study titled “Furia de los Ríos” examined how community knowledge in Piura and nearby Catacaos can improve flood‑risk management. Researchers interviewed 130 locals, authorities and leaders, finding that residents’ empirical understanding of river behavior can complement hydrological science. The report recommends institutionalising this knowledge within Peru's national disaster‑risk system, strengthening inter‑agency coordination, increasing transparency in dam construction, and creating inclusive early‑warning systems.

Both the political push for faster infrastructure and the academic call to integrate local expertise aim to reduce the impact of El Niño‑related floods on the north‑coast population.