In brief

• Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared a national state of emergency in response to El Niño, aiming to mobilize funds, personnel and equipment for drought and flood response.
• A government report says drought has affected at least 78,000 families in seven of Bolivia's nine departments and caused the loss of more than 75,000 cattle.
• Authorities warn the coming rainy season could bring flash floods and landslides, even as dry conditions persist.
• The United Nations has warned the current El Niño phase could reach unprecedented strength, with effects already visible in Peru and Chile.

Emergency Decree and Government Response

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz announced the national state of emergency late Saturday night in response to the impacts of El Niño. The government describes the action as preventive, intended to gather financial assets, personnel and equipment to manage extreme weather fluctuations. Paz said the phenomenon will cause serious consequences related to both drought and flooding, requiring the collaboration of all state bodies (Bolivia declares emergency as El Nino intensifies, threatens severe weather – DW) (Dürre und drohende Überschwemmungen - Bolivien ruft wegen El Niño Notstand aus – Deutschlandfunk). Under the decree, additional rescue units may be dispatched, and national and regional officials must coordinate efforts with the military and the police.

Drought Damage Across Departments

A government report says the drought has already hit at least 78,000 families in seven of Bolivia's nine departments. The same official document links the dry conditions to the documented loss of more than 75,000 head of cattle. Another report put the number of affected departments at six (Boliwia ogłosiła stan wyjątkowy z powodu El Niño — Channel NewsAsia | UA.NEWS – ua.news).

Flood Risk as Rainy Season Begins

Authorities have warned that the start of the rainy season could bring flash floods and landslides. Bolivia therefore faces the simultaneous threat of drought and flooding, which the government plans to address through this unified emergency framework.

El Niño Pattern and Regional Effects

The current El Niño phase has drawn global attention, and the United Nations has warned that this period could intensify beyond previous records. The climate event recurs every two to seven years. It involves warming sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific, which in turn alter global wind and precipitation patterns. Neighboring countries are also seeing effects: high temperatures in Peru have contributed to wildfires, and Santiago, Chile, recorded its wettest October since records began.