Floods and mudslides continue to plague Peru as of April 1. Peru’s Piura River was overflowing at a rate of 1,300 square feet (1,200 square meters) per second.
The ongoing disaster has killed more than 100 people and devastated the country’s infrastructure.
More than 200 bridges and more than 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) of highway have been damaged.
The worst of the overflow took place in the lowest part of the northwestern Peruvian river.
Peru Transportation Minister Martin Vizcarra called for more international aid to help the Peruvian people on March 31.
Large numbers of Peruvians have been displaced by the floods. They are still in need of bottled water, canned food, tents, toilet paper, medicine, and other basics to survive coming months, Vizcarra said.
Peru has already distributed 4,000 tons of aid so far, mostly from domestic donors, but another 4,409 tons will likely be needed.
Local donations slowed as the disaster continued to ravage the northern coast of the country.
The United States said on March 29 that it is sending Peru $775,000 in aid. China donated $1.5 million to the Andean country.
Economists in Peru estimate the cost of reconstruction at more than $6 billion. That is more than 3 percent of the country’s GDP.
Vizcarra said the government will start awarding reconstruction contracts in August or September, once heavy rains subside.
Scientists in Peru said the increased rainfall is caused by a localized version of El Niño that appeared suddenly off Peru’s coast. They now expect the rainy weather to stretch into May, though the rain would not be as intense in April as before.
