Bolivia is accelerating efforts to assist residents and tourists after several days of continuous heavy snowfall affected five regions, forcing closures of many routes, particularly in the Andes mountain area.
Officials revealed that the heavy snowfall on Wednesday enabled them to rescue over 360 victims, including nearly 60 Italians traveling in the area.
The Potosí region in southern Bolivia is among the hardest hit by the snow. On Tuesday, René Joaquino, governor of Potosí, and his team required rescue after traveling to perform duties in high mountain areas.
Misael Lopez Medina, mayor of Uyuni city and leader of the rescue operation, said officials have two main goals: to assist stranded travelers and to use machinery to clear a 6-kilometer route to reach the governor and his team.
The Bolivian Ministry of Defense stated that the heavy snowfall has impacted more than 26,220 families and 323 communities, mostly engaged in llama and sheep herding and farming, while many roads remain closed due to heavy snow accumulation.
The situation also affects major tourist sites such as Salar de Uyuni, one of the world's largest salt flats, and Laguna Colorada lake, both frequented by many visitors daily.
Roberto Rivero Zimmerman, Deputy Minister of Defense for Civil Protection, said civil defense agencies are coordinating with municipalities, the Bolivian highway authority, fire departments, and the military to assist affected communities and swiftly reopen snow-blocked routes.
Heavy snowfall has also disrupted traffic in the La Paz region, where icy roads caused long queues of trucks and buses. The Chucuito valley area reported its first snowfall in seven years, with snow also seen in the Oruro and Tarija regions.
/source:AP
Click to read news aboutInternational News