Country: Peru Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. Description of the Event Date of event 05-03-2025 What happened, where and when? During the first quarter of 2025, northern Peru experienced a significant deterioration of hydrometeorological conditions due to intensified rainfall along the Pacific coast. The department of Tumbes, located in the northernmost part of the country and bordering Ecuador, was particularly exposed due to the presence of the Tumbes and Zarumilla river basins, extensive low-lying areas and rural communities highly dependent on agriculture. These conditions increased the susceptibility of the area to flooding and river overflows, placing several districts at heightened risk as rainfall intensified. On 5 March 2025, the Government of Peru issued Supreme Decree No. 026-2025-PCM, declaring a 60-day State of Emergency in several districts across the country due to the severe impacts caused by intense rainfall. In the department of Tumbes, the declaration applied to the districts of Corrales, La Cruz, Pampas de Hospital, San Jacinto, San Juan de la Virgen, Tumbes and Aguas Verdes, enabling national, regional and local authorities to implement urgent response and rehabilitation measures. The declaration followed a rapid deterioration of conditions during the previous weeks. From 22 February 2025, increased atmospheric instability associated with the weakening of the South Pacific Anticyclone intensified rainfall along the northern coast of Peru, resulting in progressively rising river levels in the Tumbes and Zarumilla basins. The situation escalated on 1 March 2025, when the Tumbes River overflowed, reaching a flow rate exceeding 2, 139 m3/s. Floodwaters affected several communities including Cerro Blanco, San Juan de la Virgen, Oidor, Rica Playa, San Jacinto, Tacuaral, Pampa Grande and Aguas Verdes, damaging homes, crops and local infrastructure. Flooding also forced the closure of sections of the Pan-American Highway between Corrales and Tumbes and restricted access to the Tumbes Bridge, limiting mobility and complicating access to affected areas. On 2 March, approximately 10 consecutive hours of intense rainfall triggered the activation of ravines across the department. These events caused water infiltration in the Regional Hospital JAMO and other health facilities, the collapse of sections of the sewage system and the interruption of water services in Tumbes city. In response to the scale of the impacts, the Regional Government declared a regional State of Emergency for 60 days, formalised through Regional Council Agreement No. 016-2025/GOB. REG. TUMBES-CR-CD. On 3 March, the Zarumilla River also overflowed, affecting the district of Aguas Verdes and causing the overflow of the international canal. Additional severe rainfall occurred on 6 March, producing major flooding in Papayal and Matapalo, while thunderstorms persisted for approximately nine hours across both Tumbes and Zarumilla, further aggravating the emergency conditions. Although rainfall intensity gradually decreased after the initial peak of the emergency, hydrometeorological risks remained present during the following months. Throughout March, April and June, the National Emergency Operations Centre (COEN) continued issuing alerts reporting additional episodes of intense rainfall and increases in river flow levels. On 2 April and 26 June, COEN reported further overflows of the Tumbes River, resulting in renewed flooding in previously affected areas. Forecasts issued by SENAMHI and the Multisectoral Commission ENFEN indicated a high probability of normal to above-normal rainfall along the northern coast, maintaining elevated risk conditions during the response period. By the conclusion of the DREF operation in August 2025, rainfall intensity had decreased and river levels had stabilized, allowing the acute phase of the emergency to subside. However, the department of Tumbes continued to experience residual impacts, including damaged infrastructure, disruptions to essential services and ongoing needs related to water, sanitation, health and livelihoods.
Peru Floods – DREF Final Report MDRPE014
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