He said that the highest number of deaths is reported in Cochabamba (11), La Paz has seven, Chuquisaca six (five confirmed and one person missing for a week), Tarija (two) and one in Potosi.

Calvimontes described that the floods have affected eight departments until today and that one, La Paz, has declared an emergency.

According to the authority, 27 municipalities have been declared in a disaster situation, 22 of them belonging to the department of La Paz; the affected communities, 1,443 has 86,803 families reported in the same condition, and 29,404 families classified as affected.

From the point of view of housing, 665 are reported as damaged and 333 destroyed.

The Vice-Minister considered that Bolivia is going through a difficult time due to the rainy season, and warned that it will persist during the current month and the first days of March.

In this regard, he suggested that regional governments should be alert and take precautions.

jrr/abo/npg/jpm