Coastal El Nino damage to Peru estimated at 5.3 bln USD

Peru's losses due to the coastal El Nino weather phenomenon have been estimated at 17.3 billion soles (5.3 billion U.S. dollars), according to numbers from the Maximixe consultancy published Thursday by the El Comercio daily.

At least a third of these losses are centered in the northwestern region of Piura, one of the most severely affected, and which saw 194 millimeters of rainfall during 15 hours of torrential downpours last weekend.

Maximixe's research also stated the country's GDP outlook for 2017 should be revised to 2.9 to 3.1 percent.

According to Peru's National Emergency Operations Center (COEN), floods and landslides destroyed 13,714 hectares of crops, and affected another 35,525 hectares across the country. However, these could worsen as El Nino stays in place.

The worst-hit crops in the northwest are bananas, lemons, mangoes and rice.

The Ministry of Agriculture is monitoring the most affected zones, as it is feared plagues of locusts and other insects might appear.

One major highway remains closed between Chiclayo and Piura, seven remain blocked, including four sections of the North Panamerican Highway, and 22 with only limited access. It means around 1,900 kilometers of roads are still affected, while over 190 bridges have collapsed or been damaged.

El Nino appeared in December with a weak start but grew stronger throughout February and March. It has raised the average sea temperature of the Pacific by seven degrees Celsius, far above the seasonal norms of 22 Celsius.

It has produced intense rains and landslides across much of the northwest, center and south of the country.

COEN counts at least 97 people killed, almost one million people affected, and around 181,116 buildings damaged or uninhabitable. Enditem