Bolivia's highway blockades leave over 20,000 trucks stranded, cleanup efforts begin

More than 20,000 heavy‑truck drivers have been trapped on Bolivia's main highways for about 40 days after blockades were imposed in the departments of La Paz, Oruro, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and other key routes. The protests, which demand the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz, have caused severe health problems for drivers, many of whom are suffering from pneumonia and lack food. Daily economic losses are estimated at around 14 million bolivianos, and both import and export activities have been halted.

In recent days the number of blockades has fallen, allowing the Bolivian Roads Administration (ABC) together with the Ministry of Public Works to start cleaning and rebuilding the affected roads. Crews have cleared debris, rocks and earth from the La Paz–El Alto highway, the Ancaravi–Cosapa corridor, the Sucre‑Ravelo‑Oruro route and other critical links across La Paz, Oruro, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba and Potosí, aiming to restore safe transit for passengers and cargo.