Bolivia declares nationwide state of emergency as El Nino brings drought and floods

Bolivia has declared a nationwide state of emergency to free up resources to deal with the effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon. The declaration aims to rush assistance to parts of the country battered by drought and flooding.

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

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

According to a government report released this week, drought is now affecting 78,000 families in six of Bolivia's nine departments. The drought has also led to the loss of more than 75,000 cattle, the report said.

Bolivia is also prone to flooding. In December 2025, floods in the Santa Cruz region killed dozens of people.

The effects of El Nino are being felt in neighbouring countries as well. Chile's capital, Santiago, recorded the rainiest October ever, while wildfires in Peru killed at least 12 people last month.

El Nino is a global climate phenomenon that occurs roughly every two to seven years and is part of the planet's natural weather cycle. During the event, warming in the Pacific Ocean brings worldwide changes in winds, pressure and rainfall patterns, often causing extreme weather.

This El Nino cycle could be the strongest in recorded history. It is due to peak at the end of 2026, but its impacts could continue well into 2027. El Nino's intensity varies, and its impact changes based on geographic location.

Scientists predict El Nino could cause more than 450,000 deaths globally, with the poorest countries worst impacted. In early September, the World Meteorological Organization reported a nearly 100 percent likelihood that El Nino will continue through February 2027.