Pope Francis prayed for the casualties and the over 100,000 people affected by the floods that ravaged Peru.

"I want to express my closeness to the beloved population of Peru, hit hard by devastating floods," the pontiff said, along with the Angelus prayer on Mar. 19. "I pray for the victims and for all those who are working on the relief efforts," the pope added.

According to the Associated Press, Peruvian officials described the recent torrential storms, which caused rivers to overflow, brought about floods, and provoked mudslides, were the worst the country has experienced in the past two decades.

The unusual and continuous surges of copious rain along the northern coasts of Peru is said to be brought about by the warming of the Pacific Ocean's surface. Authorities believe that the series of storms would continue to batter the country for another two weeks.

The extreme weather conditions swamped medical institutions with affected people and isolated small villages from outside aid.

Peruvian Prime Minister Fernando Zavala has confirmed that the casualty count has reached 72 as of March 18. The government of Peru referenced a similar phenomenon 19 years ago when the El Niño climate incited massive storms and flooding, killing 374 people.

As of Mar. 19, 811 cities have declared a state of emergency. The government sent armed forces to these areas to assist the local police in maintaining public order.

Water service in the country's capital, Lima, has been down since mid-March, and prices for most produce in affected areas increased.

To prevent a dengue outbreak due to clogged drainages, the country's health ministry has begun fumigating stagnant and accumulated waters to kill disease-carrying mosquitoes.

The pontiff expressed his support for the nation of Peru in their time of tribulation. The presidents of Bolivia, Chile, and Venezuela also extended their assistance to the country.