Bolivia - Severe Weather (Bolivian Government, SENAMHI, Local Media)
Hail, heavy rainfall and consequent river overflows and floods continue affecting Bolivia. As of 23 January, the Bolivian Government reports over 16 000 families affected in 72 municipalities across all nine departments of the country. More rain is expected in the following days and the National Meteorological Service (SENAMHI) has issued a Red Alert for Heavy Rainfall and Thunderstorms in the departments of Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and Beni, valid on 25 and 26 January.
More specifically, as of 21 January, a total of 15 municipalities in the department of La Paz were reportedly affected and the number of affected families had risen to 1 300 from 965 since mid-January.
As of the same day, in the department of Beni, evacuations were reported in the municipalities of Santa Rosa de Yacuma, San Borja and San Ignacio de Moxos, due to river overflows. The latter two were worst hit, with an estimated 800 families affected, according to the Bolivian Government. A State of Emergency has been declared since 30 December.
In the department of Chuquisaca, over 5 000 families in 21 municipalities were affected, while crops have sustained extensive damage, according to governmental, preliminary reports.