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News > Peru

Pedro Castillo: The State Prioritizes Rescue Efforts in Pataz

  • The Presidency of Peru oversees assistance to citizens affected by the landslide in Retamas. March. 16, 2022.

    The Presidency of Peru oversees assistance to citizens affected by the landslide in Retamas. March. 16, 2022. | Photo: Twitter/@Agencia_Andina

Published 16 March 2022
Opinion

Given the landslide of a part of La Esperanza hill in the town of Retamas, province of Pataz, in the north of the country, the President of the Republic, Pedro Castillo, stated that the rescue of missing citizens is the first priority of his administration at this moment.

The incident occured on the morning of March 15, and since then rescue squads have been making every effort in order to rescue the missing.   

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In a visit to the area where the incident occurred, the Peruvian President the locals whose houses were affected to accept to be moved to safe areas. Castillo insisted on the need for the inhabitants to move to another place, pointing out that when sites with a high level of danger are occupied, the force of nature cannot be stopped.

In this sense, he said, "I understand the need, but we must organize ourselves since you cannot live at risk. We can build roads, schools, but we must bear in mind that the force of nature comes and devastates us. If there is a place where you can relocate, you can count on the support of the State 100 percent".    


The mayor of Pataz, the Regional Government of La Libertad and the Peruvian government are committed to organizing the relocation of the families of the community, who live in a high-risk area near the river, where another landslide like the one that occurred last Tuesday could happen again at any moment, the President said. 

Rescue actions are being carried out in the affected area, which was inspected in an overflight by the Head of State and the Minister of Housing, Construction and Sanitation, Geiner Alvarado. The Minister of Defense, José Gavidia, who coordinates the actions, arrived in the area last Tuesday and remains in it.

The President revealed that a new Army contingent would join the rescue actions, as already did personnel from the Social Health Insurance (EsSalud). He also praised the hard work carried out by the National Civil Defense Institute (Indeci) brigades, volunteer firefighters, mining companies, and the Peruvian National Police, who are currently carrying out rescue operations on four fronts. 

Pedro Castillo has announced that the Council of Ministers will declare the town of Retamas in an emergency to ensure that the residents receive all the necessary aid. 

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