Peru

Like many countries in Latin America, Peru is exposed to a variety of natural hazards that have triggered disasters in previous decades.   Disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts are coordinated by the National Civil Defense Institute (INDECI).   In recent years, INDECI has benefited from the advisory support provided by Peru’s National Commission for Aerospace Research and Development (CONIDA).  Taking advantage of this advisory support, INDECI developed and launched at the end of 2018 its Agenda for Applied Research for the period between 2018 and 2021, addressing the preparedness, risk, and recovery phases of...

The use of multi-risk information systems is crucial in confronting the increasing risks posed by natural hazards. In some cases, risk is increasing due to inadequate land-use norms or regulations that allow for the construction of infrastructure in areas exposed to such natural hazards. In other cases, vulnerability increases due to lack of awareness or extreme poverty.  The need to address risks from the point of view of multiple hazards is necessary to contribute to sustainable development and has been incorporated as an essential element of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.  For this purpose, the RIESGOS 2.0 project was launched in March 2021. Under the coordination of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the project builds on the accomplishments of its predecessor - RIESGOS - as a multi-risk information system that models and simulates natural hazards to support disaster...

As part of it advisory support activities, UN-SPIDER is carrying out out a Technical Advisory Mission (TAM) to Peru from 1 to 5 April to evaluate the current and potential use of space-based information in all aspects of disaster management. Based on exchanges with a wide range of stakeholders, UN-SPIDER will provide recommendations as to how to strengthen the use of space-based information in disaster risk management and emergency response in the country.

The team of experts led by UN-SPIDER is conducting multiple activities and institutional visits in Lima. The team is comprised of eight experts from UN-SPIDER; the German Aerospace Centre (DLR); the Argentinian National Space Activities Commission (CONAE); the Mexican Space Agency (AEM); the Agustin Codazzi Geographic Institute of Colombia (IGAC); the Santa Maria...

Disaster charter activation on floods in Peru

The International Charter was activated for the floods in Peru that have been afflicting the country since the half of March 2017. The flooding is a result of the El Niño phenomenon which has brought heavy rains to northern Peru, affecting especially the cities of Piura, Trujillo and Chiclayo. Forecasts suggest that the floods could continue until May. So far, The Civil Protection Agency of Peru reported that 97 people have died and 184,112 were affected. The Charter was activated by National system for emergencies (SIFEM) Argentina on behalf of National institute of civil defense (INDECI) Peru.

• Satellite based emergency mapping products

Space-based rapid mapping products related to the floods are available at:

• Copernicus Emergency Management service (EMS):...

Recent heavy rains triggered severe floods and mudslides in Peru. According to El País, there were at least 75 people reported dead on 20 March 2017. The floods are the worst in almost 30 years, affecting over half of the country. There are shortages of food and water in many areas, including the capital Lima, which has been without water since 13 March. The floods are linked to El Nino phenomenon, which increases evaporation and brings heavy rains. The National Meteorology and Hydrology Service (Senamhi) has warned that the rains will intensify during this week, especially in the country’s northern coastal region.

Peru hosts about 75 percent of the western Amazon jungle. Deforestation is therefore a critical topic for the country. Now, a major milestone in conserving and managing the western Amazon has been reached by mapping more than 95 percent of Peruvian forests using archived satellite imagery. The Peruvian Ministry of Environment, MINAM, has publicly released its first estimates of deforestation from 2000 to 2011.

The high resolution map (30m) was created using Landsat 5 and 7 images to generate a continuous map, with minimal clouds and shadows and shows rates of deforestation for the periods 2000-2005, 2005-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011. The map shows that although deforestation rates are dropping, there is still an annual loss of 0.16 percent of the original forest cover of the Peruvian Amazon.

The International Charter Space and Major Disasters was activated on 21 January 2014 for the flood event in Huancavelica, Peru.

Following the flooding of river Mantaro on 20 January, a landslide occured and disrupted transport. It is expected that the flooding will move further along riverside and will flood the near villages. The initial situation evaluation showed that due to the heavy rainfall 33 houses have collapsed, 2430 people were considered at risk. In one of the villages on the river, Cuzco, several people died and some 2000 tourists were stranded at Machu Picchu afte the railway collapsed.

In the central Andes mountains, satellites have detected ground deformation under way above a major subterranean magma body. The Altiplano–Puna volcanic province is part of an active volcanic arc in South America’s central Andes. Extending through Peru, southwestern Bolivia, Chile and northwestern Argentina, it is home to a number of large calderas formed following catastrophic eruptions. Beneath the surface of Altiplano–Puna, about 17–19 km deep, lies the largest known active magma body in Earth’s continental crust.

In a study published on 12 October 2012 in Science, scientists used radar data from the ERS and Envisat missions to study an unusual uplift near the Uturuncu volcano, which had been dormant for 270 000 years. The satellites show that the ground in this area has been rising by about 10 mm per year over the past 20...