A heavy rain event in the Colombian Caribbean battered the city of Santa Marta this Sunday, just days after the city celebrated its 500 years. The rain has caused a critical situation in numerous sectors of the district. The rains, typical in August for the Caribbean region, intensified this year due to the La Niña climate phenomenon, causing floods, road blockages, and widespread damage.
According to official reports and local media information, the prolonged rainfall exceeded the urban system’s capacity, overflowing stormwater and sanitary networks. The Ideam (Colombian Meteorological Institute) warned that these types of events correspond to a seasonal pattern with a high probability of rain in August, exacerbated by La Niña.
Heavy Rains in the Colombian Caribbean Overwhelm Santa Marta
In an unusual rain event this Sunday afternoon, August 3, in the Colombian Caribbean, chaos gripped the urban area of Santa Marta. The amount of rainfall today, according to official Ideam data, exceeds the rain the city typically receives in an entire October.
Traditionally vulnerable neighborhoods like Pescaíto, Alto Delicias, Los Fundadores, and El Pando suffered severe flooding. In these areas, water levels surpassed one meter (3.3 feet) in height, trapping homes and businesses, and forcing evacuations and rescues at various points throughout the city.
The Buenavista Shopping Center in Mamatoco was also severely affected: stores experienced water intrusion, material damage, and operations were completely interrupted, reflecting the magnitude of the disaster.
Colapsa #SantaMarta
Se registran inundaciones en múltiples sectores de la ciudad. pic.twitter.com/WCASbPsvlH
— iClima (@_iclima) August 3, 2025
Main roads blocked and cars floating after heavy rains
The city’s main arteries became impassable rivers. El Libertador Avenue and Santa Rita Avenue were completely flooded due to the sewer system’s inability to handle the large volume of water that fell on Santa Marta this afternoon. Traffic stalled for hours, public transportation collapsed, and pedestrians were trapped in murky, sewage-contaminated water.
According to witnesses, streets resembled flowing rivers, and mobility was nearly paralyzed while emergency agencies implemented partial road closures to address emergencies.
The Office of Risk Management and Climate Change (OGRICC), alongside Civil Defense and municipal agencies, activated a Unified Command Post (PMU) to coordinate response efforts: inspecting critical zones, providing humanitarian assistance, and supporting evacuations. Equipment was deployed for cleanup, mud removal, and road clearance; additionally, surveys of affected families were conducted and hillside areas were monitored for potential landslides.
Sewer system in crisis: Obsolete and collapsed infrastructure
Despite significant improvements over the last decade, Santa Marta has historically faced insufficient urban drainage infrastructure. Disorganized urban growth in neighborhoods like Pescaíto, without adequate system expansion, has exposed severely reduced stormwater capacity. Small-diameter pipes easily clog with debris, branches, or sediment and lack sufficient pressure to rapidly drain water to the sea or rivers.
Furthermore, the sanitation sector still lacks a wastewater treatment plant. This means sanitary and storm sewers remain interconnected, forcing contaminated water to discharge directly into the bay or low-lying areas when the system fails.
The criticism isn’t new: Councilman Miguel Martínez protested this situation in January of this year by kayaking down flooded 22nd Street (also called Santa Rita Avenue), denouncing it as a symbol of the city’s environmental degradation.
Last June and July, it was noted that only one of the four pumps at the EBAR Norte Pumping Station (the network’s epicenter) was operational, further hindering the system’s efficient drainage. The result: frequent overflow from inspection chambers, sewage flowing across pavements, and increasing public health risks, especially during tourist season or periods of high population density.
— iClima (@_iclima) August 3, 2025
Rain forecast for coming months
Colombia has varied tropical weather with average annual rainfall of 2,630 millimeters (mm), though with significant regional differences: the Pacific coast and inner Andean zones can exceed 6,000–7,000 mm, while the Caribbean region records less than 500 mm annually, as specified by the agency.
In 2025, the Ideam projected episodes of heavy rain caused by the La Niña natural phenomenon, with rainfall distributed irregularly throughout all months of the year, even during the dry season.
This situation was especially severe in the Caribbean region, which is experiencing a 10% to 40% increase in rainfall above average this year, depending on the area.
Consequently, authorities declared a maximum alert for Santa Marta due to the increased probability of flash flooding in rivers like the Gaira, Manzanares, Piedras, Guachaca, Mendihuaca, Buritaca, and Don Diego, caused by soil saturation and landslide risk.
Following today’s catastrophe, and while Santa Marta works to restore normalcy—especially in mobility—authorities confirmed the alert will remain in effect for the coming weeks in anticipation of more rain.