New reports indicate that water levels at the Amazon river will rise considerably in the comming months, putting 53 thousand people living in low parts of Iquitos at risk.

Iquitos is currently under a yellow alert because of the rising water levels, and is only 8 cm away from reaching a red alert, reported El Comercio.  

"We predict that by mid-February the Amazon River will exceed its limit of 117 meters above sea level, which means a red alert, and it will stay at this level for two months," said Marco Paredes, an engineer at the National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology (Senamhi) .

Experts say these water levels are abnormal at this time of year. On Thursday the river reached 116.42 meters above sea level, five meters more than what was recorded in January 2011.

"This would be normal river behavior in April, not January," said Commander Hugo Montoro, head of the Navy’s Hydrology Services.

Civil Defense authorities have said 40 thousand people in the district of Punchana and 13 thousand people in the district of Belen are at risk, according to El Comercio.  

Local authorities said moving the 53 thousand people was near impossible, and proposed building 35 kilometers of wooden bridges, which would allow local residents to continue with their daily activities.

However, they fear the bridges could also be underwater if water levels continue to increase at the current rate.