Generales

By Carlos Olimpo Restrepo S., Journalist at UdeA Communications Office 

The heavy rains in June triggered severe disasters in Colombia and Venezuela, underscoring once again the “scientific injustice” affecting the global south. A recent study—led by Imperial College London in collaboration with researchers from the Universidad de Antioquia (UdeA) and the University of Siata—emphasizes that, despite the frequency of such extreme events, many regions remain highly vulnerable due to persistent underinvestment in climate science and monitoring infrastructure. 

Site of the landslide in Granizal, Bello, on the morning of June 24, 2025. Photo courtesy of the Bello Mayor’s Office. 

In recent months, relentless rains have battered both Venezuela and Colombia. In Colombia, a devastating landslide struck Granizal, a district in the municipality of Bello, north of Medellín, killing at least 27 people, making it one of the most severe recent tragedies. Meanwhile, in the Venezuelan plains, rising rivers forced more than 4,700 people to evacuate their homes. 

Though they unfolded far apart, both events illustrate what a team of international researchers—including Universidad de Antioquia professor Paola Arias Gómez—call “scientific injustice.” This concept lies at the heart of their rapid study, “Growing Exposure and Uncertainty in Precipitation Trends Highlight the Critical Need for Climate Resilience in Colombia and Venezuela.” 

This joint analysis, conducted within the framework of the World Weather Attribution (WWA) initiative and led by Imperial College London, focused on the early morning event in Bello on June 24. Colombian specialists Lina Ceballos Bonilla and Julián Sepúlveda Berrio from the Early Warning System of Medellín and the Metropolitan Area of the Aburrá Valley (Siata) also contributed to the study. 

Professor Arias Gómez highlighted data from Siata (National Meteorological Service) showing that between the night of June 23 and the early morning of June 24, 2025, Granizal received 60 to 70 millimeters of rain per square meter within just a few hours. Experts classify this extreme event as a “torrential downpour.” 

The researcher emphasized that although this event involved extreme rainfall, the heavy precipitation in previous months also significantly contributed to the situation. “In February, heavy rains occurred due to a weak La Niña. April became the wettest month in 14 years, with rainfall doubling the usual amount, according to Siata data. In June, especially in the final days, precipitation again reached twice the normal levels. These intense, concentrated rains led to soil saturation in the region’s complex terrain,” explained the professor, who co-authored the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) in 2023, collaborating with scientists worldwide. 

This event followed flooding in Venezuela, which occurred due to heavy rainfall from June 20 through June 24, linked to a tropical wave. The heavy rain worsened the already saturated soil. It damaged infrastructure, crops, and livestock, and forced thousands of people to leave their homes and find refuge in less flooded areas. 

This situation highlights the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather and underscores the urgent need to increase investment in research and technology that improve climate monitoring. 

According to the World Health Organization report, historical data indicate that none of these events were unusual. Weather Attribution further explained that the rainfall that triggers the landslides and floods happens frequently. It occurs about once every ten years in Colombia and every three years in Venezuela. 

“Extreme weather remains poorly understood in northern South America. While it’s uncertain if climate change has increased rainfall in this region, it almost certainly raises the risk of heat waves, droughts, and fires in Colombia and Venezuela,” said Paola Arias. 

Because researchers have limited understanding of the tropical climate in these countries, the WWA document urges greater investment in weather stations and climate science to improve knowledge of shifting extremes and enhance future preparedness. 

“When I review meteorological and hydrological services across Latin America, I find they struggle with limited resources and frequently lack the technical expertise—and at times the personnel—needed to manage all their responsibilities,” said Paola Arias. 

The other international researchers involved in the report were Mariam Zachariah, Joyce Kimutai, and Friederike Otto of Imperial College; and Roop Singh, Maja Vahlberg, and Karina Izquierdo of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Climate Centre in The Hague. 

Rapid studies for timely analysis and decision-making 

Since its founding in 2014, the WWA initiative has conducted rapid attribution studies and published them within days or weeks after extreme weather events. These studies evaluate how climate change influences such events and inform strategies for mitigation and adaptation. By delivering prompt insights while the impacts remain vivid for the public and policymakers, researchers help shape effective recovery and reconstruction efforts. 

WWA focuses on events that impact large numbers of people, cause significant damage, or lead to a declared state of emergency or disaster. Each study examines how climate change has influenced both the intensity and likelihood of the event, as well as how existing vulnerabilities have exacerbated its effects. 

Find the study “Growing Exposure and Uncertainty in Precipitation Trends Highlight the Critical Need for Climate Resilience in Colombia and Venezuela” here.