LA PAZ, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in Bolivia has risen to 30, with five people still missing and more than 126,000 families affected, Deputy Civil Defense Minister Juan Carlos Calvimontes said Wednesday.

In the past week alone, floods and landslides have affected more than 10,000 families and claimed two more lives, raising the total from 28 to 30 deaths. The number of affected families climbed from 116,207 to 126,236, including 91,422 impacted households and 34,814 classified as disaster victims, Calvimontes said at a news conference.

Since November 2024, floods have damaged 1,004 homes, with 350 completely destroyed, as conditions continue to worsen.

The western department of La Paz has declared a state of emergency due to severe flooding, signaling that local authorities are overwhelmed and allowing for the mobilization of national resources to support relief efforts.

Calvimontes said the country faces a major challenge in protecting residents and rebuilding communities. He warned that heavy rains are expected to persist through April.

The National Meteorology and Hydrology Service has described Bolivia's current weather patterns as highly severe. Authorities are working with meteorologists to provide early warnings to local governments and reduce risks, said Calvimontes. Enditem

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