Bolivia declares national state of emergency over El Niño, drought hits 63 communities

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has declared a national state of emergency over the impacts of El Niño, as the country grapples with drought in several regions and prepares for possible flooding in the coming months.

Paz signed a decree to address the worsening situation, with the measure aimed at mobilising financial and human resources, improving coordination among government agencies and securing international cooperation to support affected families.

According to Xinhua News Agency, the President said the emergency declaration would help mitigate the effects of climate-related disasters on people’s lives and economic activities.

Paz said 63 communities across Bolivia had already been affected by drought, while the livestock sector was facing shortages of animal feed.

Drought affects nearly 80,000 families

Bolivia’s Vice Ministry of Civil Defence said on Wednesday that nearly 80,000 families across six of the country’s nine departments had been affected by water shortages.

The drought has also taken a heavy toll on livestock, killing more than 75,000 animals, according to the Vice Ministry.

The emergency declaration comes as authorities prepare for the possibility of further climate-related disruptions in the months ahead.

El Niño is a climate phenomenon marked by unusually warm surface waters in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. It can trigger abnormal weather patterns across several parts of the world.

Myanmar prepares heat relief shelters

Meanwhile, Myanmar’s Yangon region has prepared more than 600 heat relief shelters, with a combined capacity of over 150,000 people, as authorities brace for extreme temperatures amid forecasts of a strong El Niño event.

The shelters have been set up across 14 districts in the region, Myanmar Radio and Television reported.

The regional government has also made arrangements to ensure healthcare services remain available during periods of extreme heat. Hospitals, clinics and rural health facilities have been included in the preparations, with medical personnel ready to provide assistance, according to the report.

Strong El Niño may peak in November-December 2026

Myanmar’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) has warned that a very strong El Niño event could peak in November and December 2026.

The forecast is based on assessments by the World Meteorological Organisation and international climate centres.

The DMH cautioned that the phenomenon could bring irregular rainfall, higher temperatures, unusual storm activity, drought and other extreme weather events during the coming summer season.

(with IANS inputs)