Bolivia's Flooding Crisis: Death Toll Climbs to 37
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Synopsis
As of February 27, torrential rains in Bolivia have led to 37 fatalities since November, with significant damage across multiple departments. Authorities report 1,684 affected communities and a state of emergency in 27 municipalities, primarily in La Paz, as they brace for further severe weather.
Key Takeaways
- 37 lives lost due to torrential rains since November.
- Severe flooding has impacted 1,684 communities.
- A total of 379 homes have been destroyed.
- 27 municipalities have declared a state of emergency.
- Heavy rains expected to continue through April.
La Paz, Feb 27 (NationPress) Torrential rains in Bolivia have resulted in the tragic loss of 37 lives since November, according to Juan Carlos Calvimontes, the deputy minister of civil defense.
"The death toll has reached 37, with 16 fatalities in the central department of Cochabamba. Currently, six individuals are unaccounted for," the official stated during a press conference on Wednesday.
Fatalities have also occurred in La Paz (8), Potosi (5), Chuquisaca (5), Tarija (2), and Santa Cruz (1), as reported by Xinhua news agency.
There are three missing persons in La Paz, two in Cochabamba, and one in Chuquisaca.
Approximately 379 homes have been destroyed, with the majority (319) located in La Paz, 35 in Cochabamba, 20 in Beni, and five in Potosi, Calvimontes revealed.
"We are facing the impact on 1,684 communities... affecting 43,171 individuals and a total of 161,125 families" due to the heavy rains, he added.
A weather alert remains in effect from the National Meteorological and Hydrological Service for the departments of La Paz, Cochabamba, Tarija, Pando, Beni, and Potosi, Calvimontes informed.
Since November 2024, floods have impacted 1,004 homes, with 350 completely destroyed, as conditions continue to deteriorate.
The rains have struck eight of the nine departments across the country.
"We are discussing 83 municipalities affected, and I am confident that many will declare a state of disaster within a week," the official disclosed during the press briefing.
As of now, 27 municipalities have declared a state of emergency, with 22 of them located in La Paz, the most severely affected department.
The western department of La Paz has declared a state of emergency due to severe flooding, indicating that local authorities are overwhelmed and facilitating the mobilization of national resources for relief efforts.
Calvimontes emphasized the significant challenge ahead in protecting residents and rebuilding communities, warning that heavy rains are anticipated to persist until April.
The National Meteorology and Hydrology Service has characterized the current weather patterns in Bolivia as extremely severe.
Authorities are collaborating with meteorologists to provide early warnings to local governments and mitigate risks, he noted.
Additionally, four individuals remain missing, three in northern La Paz and one in Chuquisaca.
The National Meteorology and Hydrology Service has forecast that the rains will likely continue in the upcoming weeks, with the possibility of extending into March and April.
