Bolivia's Natural Disasters: Unpredictable Threats To The Country

Bolivia is a country that is vulnerable to a range of natural disasters. The country has experienced earthquakes, wildfires, and droughts, as well as floods and landslides, which are a regular feature of the rainy season from November to March. The impact of these disasters is often exacerbated by the country's mountainous terrain, with roads becoming impassable for days at a time. Climate change has also led to changing precipitation patterns, with some areas experiencing increased rainfall and others facing drought-like conditions. As a result, Bolivia has declared several states of emergency and has launched projects to improve disaster management and resilience, such as the Emergency Recovery and Disaster Management Project (PREGD).

Floods and landslides

In February 2020, SENAMHI issued alerts for municipalities in La Paz due to persistent rain and the threat of flooding. The town of Yuracarés, in the Cochabamba Department, was particularly hard hit, with 872 families and 21 indigenous communities impacted. The Yuracarés and Yuquis communities, located in lowland areas, are especially vulnerable to flooding.

The rainy season in Bolivia can be exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon, leading to even more intense rainfall and flooding. This was the case in February 2024, when the municipality of Cobija in northwestern Bolivia, experienced severe flooding due to the overflowing of the Acre River. The disaster left 14 communes underwater, forcing 570 families to evacuate and seek shelter.

The impact of floods and landslides in Bolivia can be devastating, resulting in casualties, displacement of communities, and widespread damage. In March 2024, the Vice Ministry of Civil Defence (VIDECI) reported that overflowing rivers, landslides, and mass displacement had affected approximately 287,300 people, with 52 deaths attributed to the rains and flooding since November of the previous year.

To mitigate the impact of these natural disasters, the Bolivian government has taken several measures. For instance, in March 2024, the Ministry of Defense announced an emergency plan for the municipality of La Paz, deploying machinery and technical personnel to provide support for 60 days.

Earthquakes

In the past 365 days (as of October 2024), there have been 172 earthquakes in or near Bolivia, with magnitudes ranging from 1.5 to 7.4. The largest earthquake during this period occurred in September 2024, with a magnitude of 7.4 and an epicentre located 20 kilometres south of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. This earthquake caused damage in Challapata, Bolivia, which is located about 61 kilometres from the epicentre.

In the week preceding October 2, 2024, Bolivia experienced 38 earthquakes with magnitudes above 2 and up to 4.4. The strongest earthquake during this period had a magnitude of 4.4 and occurred on October 2, with its epicentre located 45 kilometres east-northeast of Palca, Peru.

The most recent earthquake in Bolivia as of October 2, 2024, was a magnitude 2.8 earthquake that occurred 31 kilometres south-southeast of Mina Collahuasi. This earthquake was felt 151 kilometres away in Iquique, Chile, but it did not cause any reported damage or injuries.

Wildfires

Bolivia is prone to wildfires, which are often the result of human activity. The country has a long-standing practice of using fire to stimulate new growth in pastures and clear land for crops. This is known as "chaqueo", a slash-and-burn practice that involves the seasonal burning of pastures and crops to clear away old vegetation and prepare the soil for planting. While this is a common and long-standing practice, the fires can be intensified by unusual heat and drought. This is what happened in 2023 when Bolivia experienced widespread fire activity, with nearly 3,825 firefighters and 45 military units playing a role in fighting the blazes. The fires were so severe that the government closed around 15% of the country's schools.

The chaqueo fires are usually set in the lowlands of Bolivia, in departments such as Beni, Santa Cruz, La Paz, and Cochabamba. In 2023, the SERVIR Amazon Fire Dashboard registered 7,761 active fires in Bolivia on 22 October, nearly half of which were savanna or grassland fires, with many burning in the Beni Savanna. Many others were classified as small-scale land clearing and agriculture fires, which were distributed throughout the country.

Deforestation is also a growing problem in Bolivia, with the country experiencing a record-high level of primary forest loss in 2022, an increase of 32% from 2021. This is significant because, while grasslands can recover quickly after a fire, it can take tropical forests decades or longer to regenerate. Deforestation fires cause long-term damage to forests and contribute to the release of greenhouse gases, further exacerbating climate change.

In September 2024, Bolivia declared a national emergency due to raging forest fires, with international aid being coordinated to help fight the blazes. According to Brazil's space research agency, which monitors fires, at least 3 million hectares (7.5 million acres) had burned in Bolivia that year, making it the country's largest number of wildfires since 2010.

Heavy rain

On February 14, 2020, the Bolivia Government Information Agency declared a disaster zone for Luribay Municipality, La Paz Department, due to heavy rain and river flooding that affected 500 families, 30 households, and 1,050 hectares of agricultural land. The media reported that the rainy season overall affected eight of the country's nine regions, with 6,423 families suffering injuries and 17 deaths registered.

Indigenous communities, such as the Yuracarés and Yuquis, are particularly vulnerable to floods due to their lowland settlements. On February 20, 2020, heavy rain and floods in the town of Yuracarés, Cochabamba Department, impacted at least 872 families and 21 indigenous communities. The La Misión community was the most affected by the floods.

The Emergency Recovery and Disaster Management Project (PREGD), financed by the World Bank, aims to address the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions in Bolivia. The project focuses on rehabilitating and reconstructing infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and river flood walls, to improve resilience and accessibility during heavy rainfall.

Climate change

Bolivia is highly vulnerable to climate change, and the country is already experiencing a range of impacts. In 2009, a group of Oxfam experts travelled across Bolivia to study the country's vulnerability to climate change and found that Bolivia could expect five main effects as a result of climate change:

Food Security

Bolivia is already experiencing a decrease in food security due to climate change. The changing climate can impact the productivity of crops and livestock, leading to reduced yields and increased prices, affecting the availability and accessibility of food for the Bolivian population.

Water Availability

The retreat and disappearance of glaciers have led to a scarcity of water in some regions of Bolivia, such as the community of Khapi in the municipality of Palca. With less water available from glaciers, communities are facing challenges in accessing sufficient water for their daily needs and agricultural activities.

Natural Disasters

Mosquito-borne Diseases

The changing climate can create favourable conditions for the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. As temperatures rise and certain regions experience increased rainfall, mosquito populations may thrive, leading to a higher risk of diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever.

Forest Fires

Bolivia is also facing an increase in forest fires due to climate change. In 2019, the Chiquitanía regions in the east of the country experienced devastating forest fires, exacerbated by the climate conditions created by climate change, including less water availability and higher temperatures. These fires not only destroy vast areas of forest cover but also contribute to carbon emissions, further intensifying the greenhouse effect and climate change.

To build resilience and adapt to these challenges, Bolivia is working on various initiatives, including exploring urban resilience through the City Resilience Program and analysing disaster risk reduction and pathways to boost resilience.

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