The torrential rains caused by Hurricane Iota in the Caribbean have caused disasters in several Colombian regions where thousands of people have been affected and authorities were on alert in the Archipelago of San Andrés, which is in the storm’s path.

While the scenes in the northern Colombian city of Cartagena de Indias are of flooded streets and of people staying in temporary shelters, on the Caribbean islands of San Andres and Providencia, already battered by Hurricane Eta, the authorities are preparing for the passage of Iota, which is advancing with maximum sustained winds of more than 140 kilometers per hour.

The rains have also caused landslides and floods in municipalities such as Dabeiba, in the northwestern department of Antioquia, where 3 people have died and more than 500 people were affected.

In Choco, a poverty-stricken and jungle province bordering Panama, flooding has occurred in more than 12 municipalities.

In addition to the hurricane, rains are expected across several Colombian departments over the next 30 days, due to the weather phenomenon known as La Niña.