Bolivia – Bridge and Houses Destroyed After Heavy Rain and Floods in La Paz and Cochabamba

by in Americas, News

Local media and civil defence authorities in Bolivia have reported severe flooding in areas of La Paz and Cochabamba Departments over the last few days.

Viceministerio Defensa Civil (VIDECI) said that heavy rain had increased levels of the Magareño river in Cochabamba Department on 15 December, 2018. The ensuing floods caused a bridge to collapse in the town of Entre Ríos, situated between Cochabamba and Santa Cruz.

VIDECI reported earlier that heavy rain and a severe storm caused serious damage to several homes and power supply in the town of Mayaya in the municipality of Teoponte, Larecaja province, La Paz Department on 13 December.

Parts of Larecaja province saw further heavy rain during the following days. Local media reported that flash floods in Tipuani Municipality, Larecaja Province between 17 and 18 December, 2018. Flood waters from the overflowing Tipuani River damaged or destroyed 17 homes and affected around 70 families in total.

Roads were closed after flooding in the municipality of Guanay, also in Larecaja Province. Local media said that the flooding occurred after the Mapiri and Chayana rivers broke their banks.

Orange level alerts for storms and heavy rains were issued on 17 December 2018 by VIDECI (pdf).

Bolivia’s meteorological service SENHAMI said the heavy rain was likely to increase river levels, particularly in Beni, Cochabamba and La Paz Departments.

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