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Bellavista-Nanay, located in northern Iquitos, is one of the areas that has been affected by flooding. | |
Date | February 2012 – April 2012 |
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Location |
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Deaths | 7–8 |
The 2012 Loreto floods were an orange-alert weather event that affected Loreto Region, Peru that took place in the first months of 2012. February and March were the wettest months along the Peruvian Amazon. The area most affected in Loreto were villages, towns and coasts of the provincial capital, Iquitos. It was the first and strongest historical flood series in the history of Loreto, preceding the floods in 1986.[2]
Wet weather in Loreto brought downpours and much drizzle, causing damage and flooding to the Loreto Region since November 2011. The rainy weather continued into early 2012, and the water level rose in the Amazon —extensive stream that feeds most of the Loreto tributaries— to 117 m.[3] From February and March, several towns were affected (19,209–18,400 affected families), 26 000 hectares of farmland were flooded and water level reached the coastal streets of Iquitos. Other sites concerned were in the Ucayali Region. At the end of April, the water levels began to decrease.[4]
It was anticipated that the floods would increase the risk of dengue and malaria in the following dry season due to the proliferation of mosquitoes.[5]