Bolivia declares state of emergency over El Nino weather pattern

Drought is affecting ۷۸,۰۰۰ families, and has led to the loss of more than ۷۵,۰۰۰ cattle, as El Nino is due to peak in late ۲۰۲۶.

Bolivia has declared a nationwide state of emergency to free up resources to deal with the effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon.

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz signed the decree on Saturday, which also called for further deployments of rescue teams in areas of the country hard hit by flooding and drought.

El Nino will have “very severe impacts in terms of drought and floods”, Paz said, adding that Bolivia needs “the cooperation of all institutions”.

Drought is now affecting ۷۸,۰۰۰ families in six of Bolivia’s nine departments and has led to the loss of more than ۷۵,۰۰۰ cattle, according to a government report this week.

Bolivia is also prone to flooding. In December ۲۰۲۵, floods in the Santa Cruz region killed dozens of people.

Neighbouring Chile’s capital, Santiago, recorded the rainiest October ever, while wildfires in Peru killed at least ۱۲ people last month.

El Nino, a global climate phenomenon that occurs roughly every two to seven years, is part of the planet’s natural weather cycle.

During this climate event, warming in the Pacific Ocean brings worldwide changes in winds, pressure, and rainfall patterns, often causing extreme weather.

El Nino’s intensity varies, and its impact changes based on geographic location, but this cycle could be the strongest in recorded history. It is due to peak at the end of ۲۰۲۶, but its impacts could continue well into ۲۰۲۷.

Scientists predict El Nino could cause more than ۴۵۰,۰۰۰ deaths globally, with the poorest countries worst impacted.

In early September, the World Meteorological Organization reported a nearly ۱۰۰ percent likelihood that El Nino will continue through February ۲۰۲۷.