Bolivia: 'El Niño' Phenomenon Kills 18

The Bolivian Vice-minister of Civil Defense, Carlos Bru, informed media on Friday that the climatic phenomenon known as "El Niño" has left a death toll of 18 people while approximately 8,000 families have been affected by the inundations, flooding and mudslides in the Andean country.

"At least 21 municipalities were declared as emergency situations, and 37 as disaster areas due to heavy rainfall in seven departments of the country," Bru declared in a press conference.

Adding to the death toll, there are 12 people missing after a mudslide that happened in Puente de Armas, on Saturday, near La Paz. The populations most affected by the recent natural disasters are located in the departments of La Paz, Beni, Tarija, Potosi, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba.

The Bolivian official also reported material damages and over 2,349 hectares of crops that are affected or lost. A State of Emergency has been declared in several areas of the country due to the El Niño phenomenon.

Currently, the entire Andean region of South America face the onslaught of the phenomenon known as El Niño that has caused severe storms with severe consequences in Peru, Bolivia and Chile. In Chile, at least nine people have died as a consequence of heavy rains registered in the northern region of the country.