By IANS
La Paz : At least 48 people have been killed in the floods in the wake of heavy rainfall across Bolivia and more than 32,000 families rendered homeless, a defence ministry report has said.
All nine provinces of the country have been affected by floods caused by torrential November rains that continue till date, Spain’s EFE news agency reported Tuesday quoting officials.
Civil Defence Vice Minister Hernan Tuco said Monday that there was still no estimate available for the economic damage caused by a La Niña weather phenomenon triggered by cooling of the central and eastern Pacific below its average temperature.
Tuco however hoped that the damage this time would not reach the level of 2007, when adverse weather conditions caused devastation worth $443 million equalling 4 percent of the GDP of South America’s poorest country.
So far, 424 tonnes of food have been distributed, and UN and international aid have been received. Brazil, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Japan, among other countries, have sent rescue helicopters to move the marooned to safety and airdrop essential supplies.