STORY: Colombian officials said Saturday (July 11) that the heavy rains of the past few days in northeastern Colombia have affected more than 9,000 families.

Director of National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, Javier Pava, flew over Arauquita, one of the municipalities hardest hit by the rains in Arauca, to assess the extent of the flooding.

Local authorities report that 70% of the municipality is flooded.

Pava chaired the Departmental Risk Management Council, which approved the calamity declaration in Arauca.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: ARAUQUITA, ARAUCA, COLOMBIA (JULY 11, 2026) (UNGRD HANDOUT - Access all)

1. AERIAL OF FLOODED FIELDS SEEN FROM HELICOPTER

2. VARIOUS AERIALS OF OVERFLOWING RIVER ACROSS RURAL AREAS SEEN FROM HELICOPTER

3. DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL UNIT FOR DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT (UNGRD), JAVIER PAVA, DURING FLYOVER OF FLOOD-AFFECTED AREA

4. HELICOPTER PILOTS DURING FLYOVER

5. AERIAL OF FLOODED AREA SEEN FROM HELICOPTER

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL UNIT FOR DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT (UNGRD), JAVIER PAVA, SAYING:

"We have more than 9,000 families affected according to initial reports, and damage on four strategic communication bridges of the department."

7. VARIOUS OF FLOOD-AFFECTED AREAS SEEN FROM HELICOPTER

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL UNIT FOR DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT (UNGRD), JAVIER PAVA, SAYING:

"Right now we are dealing with these kinds of events where there is excessive rain, but in a few months we will face the opposite, a rainfall deficit with a rather complex drought. All of this is part of what we have raised from the government about the reality that today is climate change. We cannot deny that this is a very serious effect that requires political decisions on climate change."

9. VARIOUS OF DEPARTMENTAL RISK MANAGEMENT COUNCIL