Camargo residents hold prayer ceremonies amid severe drought

Residents of Camargo, in the Chuquisaca department of Bolivia, held religious prayer ceremonies using crucifixes and images of saints to plead for rain. The community is facing a critical shortage of water for human consumption and significant risks to grape crops.

While Camargo suffers from drought, other municipalities in the department, including Alcalá and Tarvita, have reported damage from hailstorms. Local officials have requested that the government dispatch water tankers to assist the population.

Experts suggest the El Niño phenomenon may be driving these irregular weather patterns, which have historically caused droughts, floods, and agricultural losses in the region. The situation threatens water reserves and food production across several Bolivian departments.