# Santa Marta emergency and public order situation > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/santa-marta-emergency-and-public-order-situation > Updated: 2026-10-23T16:40:29.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 2. Santa Marta is facing multiple localized emergencies involving public order and infrastructure. In the rural areas of Guachaca and Quebrada del Sol, Mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello established a Unified Command Post (PMU) to address public order disturbances and monitor security along the Troncal del Caribe corridor. This emergency mechanism involves the National Police and Military Forces to counter illegal armed structures in the Sierra Nevada region and coordinate humanitarian aid. Concurrently, the city is dealing with environmental and service crises. Heavy rainfall has caused widespread flooding in sectors such as Minca road and the 11 de Noviembre neighborhood, with rising river levels in Tigrera submerging a bridge. Additionally, a waste management crisis has emerged due to refuse accumulation in public spaces. The local public services company, Essmar, has identified 18 instances of alleged non-compliance by the contractor Atesa, leading to economic sanctions as the city manages health and sanitary concerns. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-23: Santa Marta faces flooding and waste management crisis Santa Marta is dealing with severe flooding from heavy rains and a growing waste collection crisis caused by operational failures and contractor non-compliance. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/santa-marta-faces-flooding-and-waste-management-crisis ### 2026-10-22: Santa Marta officials establish emergency command center amid rural unrest Santa Marta Mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello has activated a Unified Command Post to manage rural security disturbances and is coordinating with police to increase urban patrols. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/santa-marta-officials-establish-emergency-command-center-amid-rural-unrest --- Cite as: Santa Marta emergency and public order situation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/santa-marta-emergency-and-public-order-situation