Fifteen people have been confirmed dead, and it is feared as many as 36 may have lost their lives in total, following a landslide which hit a village close to the town of Secocha in Camaná Province in southern Peru on Sunday 5 February 2023. A further 20 people have been treated for injuries following the event, Which happened following several days of continuous heavy rains in the area, which have also caused widespread flooding as well as fears that major rivers may burst their banks. Landslides are a common problem after severe weather events, as excess pore water pressure can overcome cohesion in soil and sediments, allowing them to flow like liquids. Approximately 90% of all landslides are caused by heavy rainfall.
Landslips are a common problem in the Peruvian Andes during the rainy season, which lasts from September till May, with peak rainfall between January and March. The climate is highly variable across this region, with some areas receiving in excess of 10 000 mm of rainfall per year.
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