Bolivia has declared a nationwide state of emergency to address the effects of the El Nino weather pattern, with President Rodrigo Paz signing a decree on Saturday that also called for further deployments of rescue teams in areas hit by drought and flooding.
The drought is affecting 78,000 families in six of Bolivia’s nine departments and has led to the loss of more than 75,000 cattle, according to a government report this week. The country is also prone to flooding; in December 2025, floods in the Santa Cruz region killed dozens of people.
El Nino, a global climate phenomenon that occurs roughly every two to seven years, is part of the planet’s natural weather cycle. During this event, warming in the Pacific Ocean brings worldwide changes in winds, pressure and rainfall patterns, often causing extreme weather. This cycle could be the strongest in recorded history, due to peak at the end of 2026, with impacts possibly continuing into 2027.
Paz said El Nino will have “very severe impacts in terms of drought and floods”, adding that Bolivia needs “the cooperation of all institutions”. Declaring a state of emergency will allow authorities to deploy resources more quickly where they are needed, he said.
Chile’s capital, Santiago, recorded its rainiest October ever, while wildfires in Peru killed at least 12 people last month.
Scientists predict El Nino could cause more than 450,000 deaths globally, with the poorest countries worst impacted. In early September, the World Meteorological Organization reported a nearly 100 percent likelihood that El Nino will continue through February 2027.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The state of emergency signals an escalating crisis for Bolivian families already facing severe drought and livestock losses.
- El Nino’s projected strength and duration suggest the impacts in Bolivia could be a preview of a longer-term global challenge, with scientists warning of over 450,000 deaths.
- The WMO’s forecast of continued El Nino into 2027 implies that the emergency may be only the beginning of a prolonged period of extreme weather.
Background
El Nino is a natural climate cycle that warms the Pacific Ocean, altering weather patterns worldwide. While its effects vary, the current episode is projected to be unusually strong. Bolivia, a country vulnerable to both drought and flooding, experienced deadly floods in the Santa Cruz region in December 2025.
Key Perspectives
President Rodrigo Paz: says El Nino will have “very severe impacts in terms of drought and floods” and calls for “the cooperation of all institutions”.
World Meteorological Organization: reported a nearly 100 percent likelihood that El Nino will continue through February 2027.
Scientists: predict El Nino could cause more than 450,000 deaths globally, with the poorest countries worst impacted.
What to Watch
- Whether the state of emergency enables Bolivia to secure sufficient international aid to mitigate the drought’s impact.
- The potential for widespread flooding as the El Nino pattern intensifies towards its peak at the end of 2026.
- Whether the forecast of 450,000 deaths globally spurs a coordinated international response.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedBolivia declared a nationwide state of emergency over El Niño’s effects, including drought and flooding.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Bolivia has declared a nationwide state of emergency to free up resources to deal with the effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon.”
- SupportedPresident Rodrigo Paz signed the decree on Saturday to free up resources.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz signed the decree on Saturday, which also called for further deployments of rescue teams”
- SupportedThe decree called for further deployments of rescue teams in areas hit by drought and flooding.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “which also called for further deployments of rescue teams in areas of the country hard hit by flooding and drought.”
- SupportedPaz said El Niño will have “very severe impacts in terms of drought and floods”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “El Nino will have “very severe impacts in terms of drought and floods”, Paz said”
- SupportedPaz said Bolivia needs “the cooperation of all institutions”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “adding that Bolivia needs “the cooperation of all institutions”.”
- SupportedDrought is affecting 78,000 families in six of Bolivia’s nine departments.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Drought is now affecting 78,000 families in six of Bolivia’s nine departments”
- SupportedThe drought has led to the loss of more than 75,000 cattle, according to a government report this week.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “and has led to the loss of more than 75,000 cattle, according to a government report this week.”
- SupportedFloods in the Santa Cruz region killed dozens of people in December 2025.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “In December 2025, floods in the Santa Cruz region killed dozens of people.”
- SupportedPaz said declaring a state of emergency would let authorities deploy resources more quickly where needed.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz says declaring a state of emergency will allow authorities to more quickly deploy resources where they are needed”
- SupportedThe El Niño cycle could be the strongest in recorded history.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “this cycle could be the strongest in recorded history .”
- SupportedThe cycle is due to peak at the end of 2026, with impacts possibly continuing into 2027.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “It is due to peak at the end of 2026, but its impacts could continue well into 2027.”
- SupportedScientists predict El Niño could cause more than 450,000 deaths globally.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Scientists predict El Nino could cause more than 450,000 deaths globally”
