Climate & Environment
Bolivia Declares Nationwide State of Emergency Amid Growing El Nino Threat
Bolivia has declared a nationwide state of emergency to mobilise resources for the escalating impacts of the El Nino weather phenomenon. President Rodrigo Paz signed the decree on Saturday, calling for additional rescue teams in areas severely affected by flooding and drought. Paz warned that El Nino would bring “very severe impacts in terms of drought and floods” and urged cooperation from all institutions.
A government report released this week shows that drought is now affecting 78,000 families across six of Bolivia’s nine departments and has caused the loss of more than 75,000 cattle. Bolivia also remains vulnerable to flooding; in December 2025 floods in the Santa Cruz region killed dozens of people.
El Nino, a global climate event that occurs roughly every two to seven years, is expected to peak at the end of 2026, with effects potentially lasting into 2027. Scientists predict the event could cause more than 450,000 deaths worldwide, disproportionately impacting the poorest countries. In early September, the World Meteorological Organization reported a nearly 100 percent likelihood that El Nino will continue through February 2027.