Lima, Peru
On Tuesday, the Peruvian government raised the death toll from floods to 94 while relief agencies estimated that 700,000 people have been left homeless in 12 of the country’s 25 provinces. The cost to Peru’s economy in lost productivity has been estimated at $3.1 billion, or 1.6 percent of the country’s annual output of goods and services.
The price tag for fixing roads and bridges is at least $1 billion and will take two to three years to complete, transportation minister Martin Vizcarra said on Tuesday.
Widespread damage to roads and highways has isolated many victims, hampering relief efforts. One affected city is the beach town of Catacaos, where floodwaters reaching 6 feet high have killed four and left much of the city inundated. Five hundred people there were evacuated Tuesday morning, with many others still awaiting rescue.
The government’s meteorology service said there is little chance of a respite in the near future, as heavy rains are forecast to continue.
