Risaralda extends public calamity declaration for road repairs

The Governor of Risaralda, Juan Diego Patiño Ochoa, has extended the declaration of public calamity for an additional six months. This measure aims to address critical infrastructure damage caused by heavy rainfall during late 2025 and early 2026.

The extension provides the legal and contractual framework necessary to continue stabilization, rehabilitation, and bridge construction works across 16 strategic points in the department. Affected municipalities include Pereira, Marsella, Santuario, Quinchía, Pueblo Rico, Belén de Umbría, Guática, Dosquebradas, and Balboa.

Diana Carolina Ramírez Laverde, the departmental coordinator for Disaster Risk Management, stated that the extension is fundamental to ensuring the continuity of technical studies, designs, and construction required to fix structural damage such as collapsed walls, landslides, and roadbed losses.