Bolivia’s floods have caused 30 deaths, with five missing and over 126,000 families affected. Recent weeks saw significant escalation, with more households classified as disaster victims and homes destroyed. Emergency states have been declared across numerous municipalities, and persistent rain is anticipated through April, complicating the recovery efforts.
On February 20, it was reported that Bolivia is facing a dire situation following extensive flooding caused by heavy rains, resulting in a total of 30 confirmed deaths. The Deputy Civil Defence Minister, Juan Carlos Calvimontes, revealed that five individuals remain missing and over 126,000 families have been affected by the adverse weather conditions. Just in the past week, the disasters claimed two additional lives and impacted more than 10,000 families.
As of the latest updates, the number of families affected has increased significantly, rising from 116,207 to 126,236. This figure includes 91,422 households directly impacted and 34,814 classified as disaster victims. Along with the human toll, floods since November 2024 have destroyed 1,004 homes, with 350 completely obliterated, exacerbating the ongoing crisis across the country.
Currently, nine of Bolivia’s departments are grappling with the repercussions of the floods. Calvimontes highlighted that 83 municipalities have been affected, and many are expected to declare states of disaster in the upcoming week. To date, 27 municipalities have already declared states of emergency, primarily in La Paz, which has been notably ravaged by the severe flooding.
The fatalities have been reported in several departments: Chuquisaca, La Paz, Tarija, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, and Potosi. Particularly, La Paz is stressed due to the overwhelming local conditions, which has led to a declaration of a state of emergency, facilitating access to national resources for relief operations. Calvimontes emphasized the significant challenge faced by the nation in safeguarding communities and restoring normalcy.
The National Meteorology and Hydrology Service has classified the current weather situation in Bolivia as extremely severe, forecasting continued heavy rains likely extending through April. Authorities are collaborating with meteorologists to enhance early warning systems for local governments, aiming to mitigate risks associated with ongoing climatic threats. Additionally, four people are officially reported as missing, with search efforts ongoing, particularly in northern La Paz and Chuquisaca.
In summary, Bolivia is experiencing a humanitarian crisis due to severe flooding and heavy rains, resulting in 30 deaths and affecting over 126,000 families. The situation continues to escalate, compelling several municipalities to declare states of emergency as the government intervenes to provide aid. The forecast suggests enduring rainfall, which will further challenge recovery efforts across the country.
Original Source: www.lokmattimes.com
