COLOMBIA: Emergency Declared After Heavy Rains Near Bogota; Barranquilla Flooding Video.

C.REPORTS/       Unusually heavy rains drenching Soacha, near Bogota, have forced authorities to declare a state of emergency. Rains have soaked the nation since January leaving 48 people dead and affecting more than 47,000 in 27 of the 32 departments. Barranquilla has also been hit hard. The rainy season usually lasts only until mid-June but after an exceptionally dry 2009 El Niño season meteorologists believe 2010 will unusually wet because of the La Niña phenonmenon.
Here is :31 of  YOUTUBE video from a TV Report (ES) about Barranquilla flooding :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY0_ctbptGM

VENEZUELA: Slum Dwellers Suffering Even More From Water Shortage.

AP/MIAMI HERALD/
The slums around Caracas lack access to water because of sprawl and inadequate infrastructure investments.
But it has been made worse by a drought brought on by the El Nino weather system that has left reservoirs at low levels and forced water rationing.

El Nino Pummels Venezuela's Water Supply.

BLOOMBERG/
Conservation measures for water and electricity will be imposed by Venezuela because the El Nino weather pattern has reduced rainfall, affecting hydroelectric stations and drinking-water reservoirs.
President Hugo Chavez is heading off fallout from power disruptions, which have become common in recent years because of lack of investment in the power grid.

El Nino Weather System Is Drying Up Colombia's Water.

COLOMBIA REPORT/
Ricardo Lozano, Director of Colombia's Environtmental Institute (IDEAM), reported that September's rainfall deficit was close to 50%.
Authorities predict the expected rainfall for October and November in Colombia will be reduced by 30% by the El Niño system.

Heralding The Start of El Nino, More Starving Sea Lions.

BLOOMBERG.COM.
Sea lions are starving to death in large numbers along Chile’s northern coast, meaning El Nino is taking hold in the Pacific. The El Nino effect brings warmer water to South American shores, driving away fish the sea lions eat.

A Parched Mexico Hopes For Hurricanes.

LAHT.

Drought and the El Niño weather system are bringing suffering to some 3.5 million small Mexican farmers.