Vehicles caught in the avalanche in Chosica. Photo by Adrian Johemir Fernandez Yauri on Facebook. As expected, the rainy season in the Peruvian highlands has been severe. Seven people have lost their lives in landslides caused by the rain in the town of Chosica, near Lima. The landslides resulted in extensive damage and shed light on the local and central government's lack of emergency response and planning in a known vulnerable disaster zone. Chosica's Mayor, Luis Bueno, who has been in office for 20 years, was criticised for allowing houses to be built in disaster-prone areas, and for not taking the necessary measures to minimize damage caused by landslides, year after year. The local Internet started reporting landslides in several populated areas of Chosica, 47 kilometres east of the capital Lima, on the afternoon of March 23: Lamentable las victimas mortales el dia de hoy en #Chosica #Huayco. Lo que mas duele es que pudo evitarse. pic.twitter.com/pllEVrY2re — Walter Meléndez (@amigoperu76) March 24, 2015 Lamentable the casualties today in Chosica. What hurts most is that it could have been avoided. The next day there were more landslides and the collateral damage spread all the way to Lima, where prices of goods shot up: Ojo, de nuevo cortan fluido eléctrico en #Chosica #Huayco. Las vías siguen obstruidas pic.twitter.com/ELYssTi90y — Brau (@kayanga2) March 24, 2015 Be careful, electricity is cut off in Chosica. The roads are obstructed. #MINEDU suspende clases en Chosica hasta fin de semana debido a huaicos >> http://t.co/Oum8EhwupZ — DRELM (@drelm_lima) March 25, 2015 Suspended classes in Chosica until the weekend, due to landslides Esta es la Carretera Central en estos momentos… completamente bloqueada. #huaycospic.twitter.com/u2NQDuSjTg — Lucho Maguiña (@lvchomg) March 24, 2015 This is the Main Highway at this moment … completely blocked. El bloqueo de la carretera central está aumentando el valor de algunos productos en los mercados de Lima… — Luis Alejos (@Sr_Quest) March 24, 2015 The roadblock is increasing the value of some products in the markets of Lima… The blog Info5News describes the situation in the affected areas: Bastó tres horas de lluvias para que 13 quebradas a lo largo de la Carretera Central se activaran y, con ello, pesadas rocas, lodo y agua cayeran sobre los sectores ubicados en las faldas de los cerros […] Rayos del Sol (km. 35), [es] el punto más crítico. Al menos 500 metros de pista, en esta zona, ha quedado sepultada por enormes rocas y lodo, cuyo volumen alcanza hasta 10 metros de altura en algunos tramos. It took only three hours of rain for the 13 streams along Central Highway to overflow causing heavy rocks, mud and water to fall on the areas located at the foot of the hills […] Rayos de Sol on km 35. [is] the most critical point. At least 500 meters of the road, in this area, has been buried by huge rocks and mud, the volume reaches up to 10 meters high in some areas. The damage caused by the landslides would be less severe if there weren't houses in the areas prone to landslides: @VeroLinaresC Existen muchas viviendas ubicados en las quebradas sin medir las consecuencias de un huaico, es lamentable. #Chosica — Juan Mina (@Jnkrlos_Mina) March 24, 2015 Unfortunately, there are many houses located in the endangered zones without precautions for a landslide asi como la empresa privada reubico a morococha , el estado debe reubicar a los que viven en zona de huayco en chosica @Ollanta_HumalaT — Beto Luis (@Betoluis123) March 25, 2015 Just like the private company relocated Morococha, the state should relocate those living in the landslide zone in chosica #Huayco es natural pero el desastre esta ligado al desarrollo urbano que ha ignorado peligro http://t.co/eWjE2h0dJi pic.twitter.com/UNgyINj8xt — Rigoberto Choque (@Waynachoke) March 25, 2015 Landslide is a natural phenomenon but the disaster is caused by urban development that has ignored the danger Chosica's Mayor, Luis Bueno, who has been re-elected six times in a row, was the focus of much criticism: @Martin_Huancas @BryceArru @supermcalderon @piacostar Solo se construye con autorización de la muni Chosica, son mas votos para Bueno. — Jorge Aspauza Razuri (@aspauzarazuri) March 24, 2015 The houses are built with the permission from the local government, meaning more votes for Bueno Ahora puede verse de donde salieron los votos para mantener 20 años al alcalde de #chosica luis Bueno #lima #perú pic.twitter.com/dPuxOolF8N — William (@aeropuertoTGI) March 25, 2015 Now you can see where the votes to maintain Chosica's Mayor Luis Bueno in office for 20 years came from Lima’s Mayor, Luis Castañeda, who was travelling abroad, was also criticised by his political opponents.