Peru’s government declares state of emergency in 131 districts
The Peruvian government on Sunday declared a 60-day state of emergency in 131 districts due to imminent danger of the possible arrival of the El Nino phenomenon.
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El Nino is the warm phase of the Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and is associated with a band of warm ocean water that develops in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific (approximately between the International Date Line and 120°W), including the area off the Pacific coast of South America.
However, El Niño is accompanied by high air pressure in the western Pacific and low air pressure in the eastern Pacific. El Niño phases are known to last close to four years; however, records demonstrate that the cycles have lasted between two and seven years.
According to a decree published in the official gazette “El Peruano,” the districts were in nine departments including Apurimac, Cusco, Junin and Puno.
The measure calls on regional governments, along with the National Civil Defense Institute (Indeci), the Ministry of Health and other institutions, to execute emergency, response and rehabilitation operations.
The governments of the nine departments do not have the response capacity to deal with the foreseen situation brought about by the El Nino phenomenon, making national-level assistance necessary, said an Indeci report.
Wumi/Xinhua
