Bolivia declares national emergency over El Niño disasters
Severe drought has affected more than 78,000 families and killed over 75,000 head of livestock in Bolivia, as extreme weather hits other Latin American countries.
- Bolivia's government has declared a national state of emergency to expedite the allocation of funds and resources for tackling El Niño-related disasters.
- The emergency addresses severe drought affecting over 78,000 families across six of the country's nine departments, as well as the threat of major floods.
- The declaration comes as the current El Niño is considered one of the strongest in history, with the United Nations expecting its effects to continue into 2027.
Bolivia’s government has formally declared a nationwide state of emergency to speed up the allocation of funds and resources to tackle natural disasters caused by El Niño.
President Rodrigo Paz signed an emergency decree and ordered the urgent deployment of rescue teams and relief workers to drought-hit areas and severely flooded locations where water remained standing.
He stressed that cooperation from all sectors was needed because the effects were more severe than in any previous episode.
The Bolivian government’s latest report states that severe drought has spread to six of the country’s nine departments, affecting more than 78,000 families and causing more than 75,000 head of livestock to die from shortages of water and food.
Bolivia also faces the threat of flash floods, which caused major losses in the Santa Cruz region in late 2025.
The crisis extends beyond Bolivia, with widespread effects across Latin America:
- Chile: The capital, Santiago, has experienced its highest October rainfall on record.
- Peru: Severe wildfires caused by dry conditions have killed at least 12 people.
Highest alert as United Nations expects El Niño to last into 2027
El Niño develops when sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean rise sharply, altering wind direction, atmospheric pressure and rainfall patterns worldwide.
This natural cycle occurs every two to seven years.
The current episode is considered potentially one of the strongest in history and is expected to peak in late 2026, with its effects continuing into 2027.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed a nearly 100% likelihood that El Niño would persist until February 2027.
The organisation also forecast further strengthening of the event.
Meanwhile, scientists and climate experts predict that the severity of this super El Niño could cause more than 450,000 deaths worldwide.
Low-income countries with inadequate infrastructure are expected to be the most vulnerable and bear the burden of these heavy losses.
