Santa Marta became the first Colombian capital to declare a public calamity due to the El Niño phenomenon to address the climate emergency.
The measure was adopted by the Distrito Council for Disaster Risk Management in an extraordinary session. It allows use of exceptional administrative and budgetary tools to respond quickly to emergencies.
Authorities reported maximum temperatures of 37.2 degrees Celsius, nearly four degrees above the historical average. The thermal sensation exceeded 45 degrees at times.
Darío Linero, director of the Distrito Office for Risk Management, explained that the decision aims to anticipate reduced water sources and increased risks such as water shortages, forest fires and public health impacts.
