Heavy rainfall in Bolivia on Saturday night caused the Pasajahuira River to overflow, flooding the Bajo Llojeta neighborhood on the outskirts of La Paz. Many residents were trapped in their homes as floodwaters rose, awaiting rescue teams.
“There was screaming and terrible desperation,” said Julieta Clavijo, Bajo Llojeta’s municipal president, adding that a 4-year-old girl is missing, leaving her parents distraught. “People had to escape through their roofs because the mud was already too deep,” she explained.
Rescue teams, aided by 300 military personnel, are searching for the missing child and working to evacuate residents. Civil Defense Vice Minister Juan Carlos Calvimontes confirmed ongoing efforts in the area. At least 26 people were injured, and over 40 houses were damaged, according to local authorities.
President Luis Arce visited the affected community, promising full support to restore the area and launch an investigation into the disaster’s causes. “It cannot remain like this,” he stated.
Residents, however, voiced frustration over inadequate assistance. “My house is flooded, and the mud keeps rising,” said Andrea Quispe. “We need more help and equipment. There’s still time to save my house, but no one is helping.”
Heavy rainfall, worsened by late-season tropical storms, has also devastated parts of Central America, cutting off communities in Honduras and damaging Costa Rica’s coffee crops.
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