By late December, heavy rains that began on Nov. 25 had caused the worst floods in over 40 years in Venezuela and Colombia, killing more than 200 people and leaving thousands homeless. Roads and bridges were washed away or covered by landslides.
In Venezuela, a state of emergency was declared for Caracas and the states of Miranda, the Capital District, Vargas and Falcon.
In Colombia a national state of emergency was declared, with the area around Medellín and along the Atlantic coast hardest hit. Nearly a quarter of all roads sustained damage.