La Paz, Bolivia— Bolivia declared an extreme weather emergency linked to El Niño on November 1, 2026 after days of severe flooding that killed several people, displaced thousands, and cut off major roads across the lowlands.
Heavy rains started early in the week. Rivers in Beni, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz rose fast. By Saturday, water had entered homes, schools and health clinics. The Mamoré and Ichilo rivers burst their banks. Bridges collapsed.
The national emergency decree allows the government to move funds, deploy the army, and request international aid. The civil defense agency reported at least five dead and dozens missing. More than 8,000 families are affected, according to preliminary figures.
Officials said El Niño is amplifying the seasonal rains. Warm Pacific waters shift storm tracks. Bolivia has faced the pattern before. This year is sharper. Rainfall totals in some zones are double the monthly average.
"We have communities completely isolated. Boats are the only way in. We need food, clean water, and medicine now," a regional civil defense director said from Trinidad. He said rescue teams are evacuating children and elderly first.
Farmers lost rice, corn and banana crops. Cattle drowned in low pastures. Roads between Cochabamba and Santa Cruz are blocked by landslides. Bus companies suspended service. Fuel trucks cannot pass. Prices are rising.
In the highlands, the rain triggered mudslides that buried houses. La Paz officials warned of further slope failures. In the Amazon basin, indigenous groups reported loss of fishing gear and drinking water contamination. Health workers fear outbreaks.
The government opened shelters in schools and stadiums. The armed forces deployed helicopters to drop supplies. Neighboring departments sent pumps and blankets. Meteorologists forecast more rain over the next 72 hours.
International agencies are watching. The UN disaster office said it is ready to support. Argentina and Brazil offered assistance. Aid groups said the biggest risk after water is disease.
The emergency remains in force. River levels are still rising.
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