Rains in Lima, how prepared is the capital for the heavy rains caused by Cyclone Yaku?

According National Meteorology and Hydrology Service (Senamhi)there will be light to moderate rain in Metropolitan Lima between March 12 and 16. In the western districts of Lima (near the sea), the rain could have values ​​of 1 to 2 millimeters (1-2 mm/day); that is, one or two liters of water accumulated per square meter. In Lima, for example, Chosica, could have 4 millimeters.

Is the capital ready to withstand precipitation of this nature? Former housing minister coarse vega says no, and hopes that what has been announced by the specialists of the senamhi. He noted that a similar phenomenon occurred in 1970, 50 years ago. And 45 years before that date there was a similar episode, in 1925. And 50 years before, in 1877 too.

What he pointed out senamhi is that this climatic episode in Lima will last between four and five days. “And now imagine that in the old quarters of Lima, not just the Cercado and La Victoria, Rimac, Callao, part of Jesús María. So if you look at these old neighborhoods, there are actually a lot of houses that would end up collapsing,” he told N.

Vega He said that you also have to think about the hilly area where few houses have materials that resist. And also, there is no channeling, nor paths, nor proper stairs. He points out that it would also be a misfortune in areas where water does not flow.

“Now, if we think about the areas of human settlements, where there are no tracks, there are no paths, there is no drainage, there is no drain, so there is no way out. So look, not only the rain would affect us, but its impact on human settlement areas that lack basic services would be accumulation of mud, water, disease everywhere,” the former minister said. .

On top of that, he pointed out that we don’t even have the machinery so you can intervene. And in this case, the machines would have to be invented and leased to the private sector. And for that you need speed and urgency.

coarse vega He says we have to establish who will do it in Lima. “Because you also have to ask yourself the question. From where ? Ministry of Housing, Sedapal, Indeci, Municipality of Lima. So you also need to have institutional clarity to intervene,” he said.

He argues that we don’t have that institutional clarity. “And if we add to that the critical situation of the government and the country, worse. That’s why perhaps all that’s left is to confide in each other and hope that a misfortune of this type does not happen, ”he underlined.