Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms caused emergencies in the southeastern part of Medellín on Tuesday, with the La Presidenta stream overflowing and disrupting traffic and businesses in the Provenza and Monterrey neighborhoods.
A significant impact occurred on Avenida El Poblado, where the heavy rains caused structural damage to the stream’s covering, resulting in a substantial sinkhole.
Authorities have closed the roadway in both directions as a precaution whereas city engineers assess the extent of the damage.
A public bus became trapped in the hole, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.
“We are going to conduct technical evaluations. We have closed both lanes as a precaution until we assess the entire coverage; we ask that you take detours,” said Mayor Federico Gutiérrez.
He added, “Structural evaluations are beginning to start the repair, but the damage is significant and will take days. We ask that you take alternate routes; it is necessary to close [the road].”
The mayor detailed that the Medellín Fire Department and traffic agents are deployed in the area to address flooding and manage traffic diversions. “No injuries have been reported. We are addressing the situation,” Gutiérrez assured during a visit to the affected areas.
The highest rainfall accumulation was recorded in the La Presidenta stream, which reached a red risk level in key areas such as the Éxito sector of El Poblado and the Parque Lineal La Presidenta. This sudden rise in water levels put residents and passersby on alert for potential overflows.
Real-time monitoring indicated an orange risk level (pre-alert) in other streams and strategic points in the city:
-La Presidenta stream: Orange levels in the Vizcaya sector.
-La Poblada stream: Orange risk near the Manila neighborhood.
-La Volcana stream: Increased levels near the Eafit University.
-Medellín River: Orange risk near the El Poblado metro station.
Satellite images from Siata show mostly cloudy skies over all municipalities in the Aburrá Valley. The forecast for the coming hours indicates a high probability of rain in Medellín, Envigado, and the northern municipalities of the metropolitan area, while the probability remains low for the rest of the region.
Authorities recommend that citizens avoid crossing bridges or traveling near the banks of the streams mentioned and stay informed through official risk management channels. The situation underscores the vulnerability of urban infrastructure to increasingly intense weather events.
