Colombia: The Diocese of Santa Marta mobilizes to help those affected by floods

The Diocese of Santa Marta has activated its help channels to serve those affected by the rains, which on Sunday afternoon unexpectedly flooded at least 60 neighborhoods of this Colombian Caribbean city.

The inhabitants of Santa Marta, in the department of Magdalena, were surprised with four consecutive hours of rains that, because of the mud they dragged, ended up collapsing the city’s sewer and flooding at least 60 neighborhoods.

The dimension of the natural disaster forced the authorities to declare the orange alert and ask the population to remain attentive to any indication.

Mons. José Mario Bacci, Bishop of Santa Marta, told ACI Press that what was affected by the rains “corresponds to 80% of the city, at least in floods.” “What really happened is that the waters were damaged in lower places and then, in some sectors, especially the most popular, the water went down dragging mud,” and entering the houses, he explained.

The prelate was in the San Vicente de Paúl parish, in a peripheral area, when rainfall began. While there were no ravages in the temple, the cural house was affected.

Of the parishes, the most damaged has been Our Lady of Carmen, in the Pescaíto neighborhood, which “suffers a lot with any rain.” Mons. Bacci said that in the Church the Water Report rose more than one meter and “the parish all filled with mud.”

“I have spoken with five parish priests who have had effects. Two more serious than the rest. For example, some parish books have been wet,” he said.

He pointed out that the dimension of damages and the number of victims have not yet been quantified, but the diocese has already begun to mobilize to carry material support. “We are going to organize a collection of aid for families and we will also see which pastor needs more help than others,” he said.

The prelate said that aid deliveries will probably begin today. Therefore, he asked people who have been affected, to approach the parishes to be registered and thus “coordinate through the parishes the sending of aid as possible.”

Mons. Bacci also reiterated his call “To pray for our most fragile brothers and for the suffering that this storm has caused.”

“This prayer for our most needy brothers becomes more true if, of course, it makes us more supportive and pushes us to organize concrete mitigation actions of the suffering of those who live more directly the effects of these natural disasters,” he said.