Floods, mudslides kill 16 in Bolivia, impacts thousands

Torrential downpours during Bolivia's rainy season have claimed at least 16 lives and severely affected over 16,000 families since November, officials confirmed on January 9.

Heavy rains, stretching from November through early January, have caused widespread destruction across the South American country, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Deadly floods and mudslides have particularly ravaged the western La Paz department, where a "state of disaster" has been declared in the municipalities of Apolo, La Asunta, and Luribay, according to Juan Carlos Calvimontes, Bolivia's deputy civil defence minister.

A total of 36 municipalities across eight of Bolivia’s nine departments have reported significant damage. The Oruro department remains the only region unaffected by the extreme weather conditions.

In addition to the flooding, other climatic events such as frost and hail storms have compounded the devastation, impacting five departments.

The rainy season, forecasted to last until March or April 2025, poses continued risks as authorities work to address the damage and assist affected communities.

Government response teams are on high alert, coordinating relief efforts to support those displaced and mitigate further losses.

By Khagan Isayev