Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori toured flooded neighborhoods in the Villa El Salvador district of southern Lima after weekend rains inundated homes, pledging to declare a state of emergency for affected areas.
Fujimori inspected water and mud damage in Sector 1 Group 1 alongside Housing Minister Mauricio Arnillas and officials from INDECI, Peru's national civil defense agency.
Speaking during her visit, Fujimori described the situation as terrible and warned residents to consider how severe conditions could become once precipitation from the El Niño climate phenomenon arrives.
The president said she had consulted with the Prime Minister and confirmed her administration would declare a state of emergency across affected districts and regions. She added that official paperwork was being finalized so the emergency measures could take effect by nightfall.
Addressing community complaints, Fujimori acknowledged that local residents have reported drainage failures for ten years. She said an order is in place to replace the main water matrix, with officials estimating completion in one to two months.
Fujimori criticized structural equipment failures and organizational flaws, stating that authorities should have taken action earlier. She also reported that three local schools suffered flood damage and requested that the Minister of Education conduct an on-site visit.
The president noted that INDECI had completed a census of affected households and said the education minister would join her later for further announcements, preceding cleanup and fumigation operations.
Economy Minister downplays flood damage
Economy and Finance Minister Elmer Cuba offered a contrasting assessment of the flooding in southern Lima during an interview with the Exitosa news outlet, minimizing the severity of the damage.
Cuba urged the public not to panic, arguing that rainfall and subsequent flooding occur across the globe and citing Paris, Madrid, and Santiago de Chile as cities that experience similar events.
The minister remarked that people should not exaggerate over having water reach up to their knees. Although he added that state policy must prioritize protecting lives and preventing home loss during El Niño, his comments drew criticism for showing a lack of foresight regarding the scale of the damage.
Residents criticize mayor over delayed response
Residents in Villa El Salvador expressed frustration over municipal inaction, accusing Mayor Guido Íñigo Peralta of providing a late and inadequate response to flooding in Sector 1 Group 1, as well as nearby Groups 2 and 6.
Local resident Peter Galardón criticized Mayor Íñigo for arriving at the flooded site only after the president appeared and for attempting to shift responsibility onto state water utility Sedapal.
Galardón noted that Íñigo has served as mayor for five years and that his brother previously held the post, meaning the family has controlled the local government for roughly a decade without solving persistent flooding.
According to Galardón, local officials were absent when sewage backed up and flooded streets overnight. He stated that a cabinet minister remained in the area until 2:00 a.m. while the mayor appeared briefly at 9:00 a.m. before leaving, only returning once Fujimori arrived.
Galardón emphasized that sewage collapses and street flooding recur constantly in the area, noting that similar flooding occurred the previous week but that the recent overflow was more severe.
Municipal response and heavy machinery deployment
Mayor Íñigo avoided directly answering questions regarding criticisms of his initial absence, telling news outlet La República that municipal workers had been operating in the area since the previous day.
The mayor stated that municipal personnel were deployed alongside heavy equipment, including water tankers, dump trucks, and front loaders, to assist affected neighborhoods.
Íñigo added that the municipality remains in continuous coordination with water utility Sedapal to execute necessary emergency actions and address the drainage failure.
