Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency on Saturday, October 31, 2026, to deploy emergency units and economic resources against droughts and floods driven by an intense “super El Niño” climate phenomenon. The emergency measures arrive as severe weather threatens thousands of households and livestock populations across the South American nation.
Emergency Measures Deployed Across Six Departments
The state of emergency unlocks critical economic resources and deploys disaster relief units to regions facing severe environmental impacts. President Paz addressed the nation on Saturday, stating that authorities had worked hard to protect the environment and minimize the damage inflicted by the weather system. “We have carried out enormous work to preserve the environment and so that the impact of this year’s super El Niño is as reduced as possible,” Paz said in his address.
Drought conditions currently impact slightly more than 78,000 families across six of Bolivia’s nine departments, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Civil Defense. The same reports show that the prolonged dry spells have destroyed more than 75,000 head of livestock.
Regional Impact and International Warnings
The climate pattern extends far beyond Bolivia’s borders, bringing severe weather anomalies across South America. In neighboring Peru, El Niño triggered temperature spikes and wildfires that claimed at least 12 lives, while a dengue outbreak fueled by the conditions caused 81 additional deaths in 2026. Chile experienced its wettest October on record in Santiago due to the same atmospheric shifts.
The United Nations issued a severe warning regarding the current cycle, stating that the ongoing El Niño event could reach an unprecedented intensity that literally surpasses climate tracking scales used over the past four decades. President Paz emphasized the broad threat ahead, noting that the country requires the full cooperation of all institutions to withstand the coming blows.
Understanding the Super El Niño Phenomenon
El Niño is a natural climate cycle originating in the Pacific Ocean that recurs every two to seven years. Surface waters in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific warm up starting in the spring, which triggers major global shifts in wind patterns, atmospheric pressure, and rainfall in the following months.
How many Bolivian families are affected by the drought?
Drought conditions directly affect slightly more than 78,000 families across six of Bolivia’s nine departments, according to the Ministry of Civil Defense.
What are the economic and agricultural losses so far?
The dry conditions have caused the loss of more than 75,000 head of livestock across the affected regions of the country.
What impact has El Niño had in neighboring Peru?
In Peru, El Niño drove up temperatures and fueled wildfires that killed at least 12 people, while also spreading dengue fever, which caused 81 deaths in 2026.