Bolivia drought triggers emergency in 26 municipalities

The El Niño phenomenon is causing significant drought across six departments in Bolivia, primarily impacting crops and livestock. At least 26 municipalities in Chuquisaca, Santa Cruz, and La Paz have declared states of emergency or red alerts due to the lack of rainfall and declining water levels in reservoirs, such as the Hampaturi dam.

Chuquisaca is the most heavily affected region, with 21 municipalities reporting losses in agriculture and livestock. In Santa Cruz, municipalities like Cuevo and Boyuibe have declared disasters, while San José de Chiquitos has begun distributing drinking water via tanker trucks. In the southwest of Potosí, intense snowfall has also caused deaths among camelid livestock.

The Bolivian government has activated a response strategy based on Risk Management Law 602. Through the state water company Epsas, authorities are monitoring reservoirs in real time to ensure the supply of potable water. However, Senamhi warns of a complex scenario for the final quarter of the year, predicting a ‘very strong’ El Niño that could bring extreme temperatures and drought to the western, highland, and valley regions, while causing intense rains and flooding in the east.