Bolivia declares national emergency as El Niño threatens drought and floods

Bolivia declared a nationwide state of emergency on Saturday as El Niño bears down on the country with drought and flooding, freeing up resources and authorising further deployments of rescue teams.

President Rodrigo Paz signed the decree and said El Niño will have "very severe impacts" and that Bolivia needs the cooperation of all institutions.

Drought is already affecting 78,000 families across six of Bolivia's nine departments and has resulted in the loss of more than 75,000 cattle, according to a government report issued this week. Bolivia is also exposed to severe flooding; floods in the Santa Cruz region in December 2024 killed dozens of people.

The current El Niño cycle is forecast to be the strongest in recorded history and is expected to peak at the end of 2026, with impacts potentially continuing into 2027. The World Meteorological Organization reported a near-100 percent likelihood that the phenomenon will persist through February 2027.

Scientists warn El Niño could cause more than 450,000 deaths globally, with the poorest countries facing the worst consequences. The broader regional toll is already visible: Chile's capital Santiago recorded its rainiest October ever, and wildfires in Peru killed at least 12 people last month.