Peruvian president declares state of emergency as El Nino approaches

Peruvian President Ollanta Humala declared a state of emergency in 14 of the country's regions in order to prepare for the El Nino phenomenon, which devastated the country in 1997.

In a decree published by state newspaper, El Peruano, the head of state said that this extraordinary measure had been taken to minimize the damage from potential floods, torrential rains and avalanches brought about by El Nino.

This state of emergency will begin on Sept. 4 and last 60 days, when central, regional, and local authorities will take all preventive measures necessary to minimize damage to people and infrastructure in high risk areas.

The decree also establishes a need for coordination between different levels of government and the National Institute of Civil Protection (Indeci) to better ward off El Nino. The total plan has been given a budget of 923 million U.S. dollars.

The Peruvian national weather service has warned that, in the next few months, the impact of El Nino could be strongly felt in the country, with natural disasters causing material damage that could cost 3.7 billion U.S. dollars.

In 1997, El Nino cost Peru 3.5 billion U.S. dollars as highways, railways, bridges, farmland, houses and other types of infrastructure were destroyed. Endi