Colombia declares national emergency after deadly tragedy caused by northern floods
- February 12, 2026
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Severe floods in northern Colombia leave 18 dead, thousands of homes destroyed, and a growing humanitarian tragedy.
The government of Colombia declared a state of emergency after deadly floods triggered a major tragedy in the country’s northern and Caribbean regions.
Unusually heavy rains in recent weeks have killed at least 18 people, destroyed thousands of homes, and submerged vast agricultural areas.
The crisis has hit the department of Córdoba especially hard. More than 150,000 residents face the последствия of overflowing rivers and a dam that pushed water into entire communities. Authorities report widespread damage across multiple municipalities.
Colombia’s National Disaster Risk Management Unit initially reported 22 deaths but later revised the official toll to 18.
Officials estimate that more than 4,300 homes have been destroyed and up to 300,000 hectares remain underwater across eight departments: Córdoba, Antioquia, La Guajira, Sucre, Bolívar, Cesar, Magdalena, and Chocó.
Many affected areas are fertile plains used for cattle ranching and agriculture. The national cattle association confirmed that at least 1,200 head of livestock have died, deepening losses for rural producers.
Debido a las fuertes lluvias en Bogotá, se registran inundaciones en varios puntos de la ciudad en este momento: en la Autopista Norte con calle 209, en la Carrera Séptima con calles 153, 163 y 237, en la Avenida Cali con 139, en el Canal Torca y en la Avenida Caracas con calle… pic.twitter.com/ldZLvAqOU9
— BluRadio Colombia (@BluRadioCo) February 11, 2026
The emergency decree allows President Gustavo Petro to take extraordinary measures for 30 days, including reallocating national budget funds without prior congressional approval. The government aims to speed up humanitarian aid, reinforce containment infrastructure, and support displaced families.
Petro canceled his planned attendance at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, stating that he must prioritize the response to the climate emergency at home.
In Córdoba alone, 24 of 30 municipalities remain flooded, and nearly 43,000 families have been affected. Emergency teams continue evacuations, distribute food and medical assistance, and monitor rising water levels as rains persist.
The disaster highlights the vulnerability of many regions in Colombia to extreme weather events, as experts warn that climate change is intensifying rainfall patterns and increasing the frequency of severe floods.
