An official press release from the Bolivian Air Navigation and Airports (NAABOL) states that, by rules and regulations, the minimum conditions required for all operations should be a visibility of 1,600 meters but it reaches only 1,200 meters at this time due to the smoke.

This Monday, dense smoke covers the Santa Cruz department after a report on Sunday by the municipal environmental department of the Air Quality Index of 242, considered “bad.”

This is the third consecutive day in which this pollution has been maintained since the beginning of burnings in the region, which caused the forest fires that have increased since October 4.

The Defense Ministry reported that the flames continue affecting different Santa Cruz municipalities but the fire has also spread to the country’s other departments, among which Pando and Beni are the most affected.

Health authorities are advising the population to avoid being outdoors, use a facemask, drink plenty of fluids, use eye drops to avoid eye irritation, and go to a health center in case of symptoms.

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