Bolivia declares national emergency as El Nino drives drought and floods
President Rodrigo Paz signed the decree to mobilize rescue teams after 78,000 families lost access to water and 75,000 cattle died.
By Jason Lee ·
Bolivia is facing a dual threat from the El Nino weather pattern, with droughts and floods straining resources across the country. President Rodrigo Paz signed a decree on Saturday declaring a nationwide state of emergency. The measure allows the government to bypass standard budgetary procedures to fund immediate relief efforts.
The decree also orders the deployment of additional rescue teams to regions suffering the most damage. Paz described the current situation as having very severe impacts regarding both drought and floods. He stated that the nation now requires the cooperation of all institutions to manage the crisis.
A government report issued this week provided specific data on the damage. Drought conditions are affecting 78,000 families in six of the country’s nine departments. The water shortage has resulted in the death of more than 75,000 cattle.
Flooding presents a separate danger in other parts of the country. In December 2025, floods in the Santa Cruz region killed dozens of people. The broader regional impact is also visible in neighboring countries. Santiago, Chile, recorded its rainiest October on record, while wildfires in Peru killed at least 12 people in the past month.
El Nino occurs roughly every two to seven years as part of the natural weather cycle. It involves warming in the Pacific Ocean that alters global wind, pressure, and rainfall patterns. Scientists say this specific cycle could be the strongest in recorded history.
The World Meteorological Organization reported in early September that there is a nearly 100 percent likelihood El Nino will continue through February 2027. The phenomenon is due to peak at the end of 2026. Scientists predict it could cause more than 450,000 deaths globally, with the poorest nations suffering the greatest losses.
Source: Al Jazeera
