Flooded Bolivian City Evacuated
- 14 years ago
Civil defense teams began evacuating parts of the Bolivian city of Trinidad on Tuesday. It came after President Evo Morales announced a state of emergency.
Eleven people are dead and more than 100,000 people are displaced by the floods across the country. Trinidad, in the department of Beni, has been particularly hard hit.
Many Trinidad residents have set up makeshift homes above the waterline.
[Helena Saucedo, Flood Victim]:
"They need to help us. We need water because this water is no good for drinking."
The city is surrounded by flood barriers, but officials it's not enough to keep water out.
[Hernan Tuco, Civil Defense Vice-Minister]:
"Rivers like the Grande, Mamore and Ibare Rivers are on red alert. They have risen over 50cm. It is slowly flowing out into Trinidad. We are going to help with the evacuation and to save human lives. At this moment we are in the second stage of the emergency plan."
A state of emergency has been declared in 4 cities. This could be extended in coming days.
Environmentalists say deforestation is to blame.
[Daniela Leyton, Environmentalist]:
"There are many causes of flooding. I believe that one of the major causes is deforestation. Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. More than half of its territory is covered in the Amazon rainforest and the figures of deforestation according to the REDESMA [Amazon Survey] show that 320 square meters of forest are destroyed per person per year. That is 20 times more deforestation that in Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia."
Bolivia is hit by torrential rainfall each year from November through March.
Eleven people are dead and more than 100,000 people are displaced by the floods across the country. Trinidad, in the department of Beni, has been particularly hard hit.
Many Trinidad residents have set up makeshift homes above the waterline.
[Helena Saucedo, Flood Victim]:
"They need to help us. We need water because this water is no good for drinking."
The city is surrounded by flood barriers, but officials it's not enough to keep water out.
[Hernan Tuco, Civil Defense Vice-Minister]:
"Rivers like the Grande, Mamore and Ibare Rivers are on red alert. They have risen over 50cm. It is slowly flowing out into Trinidad. We are going to help with the evacuation and to save human lives. At this moment we are in the second stage of the emergency plan."
A state of emergency has been declared in 4 cities. This could be extended in coming days.
Environmentalists say deforestation is to blame.
[Daniela Leyton, Environmentalist]:
"There are many causes of flooding. I believe that one of the major causes is deforestation. Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. More than half of its territory is covered in the Amazon rainforest and the figures of deforestation according to the REDESMA [Amazon Survey] show that 320 square meters of forest are destroyed per person per year. That is 20 times more deforestation that in Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia."
Bolivia is hit by torrential rainfall each year from November through March.