At least seven people have died, two dozen are reported missing, and hundreds of families have been affected after the Piraí river overflowed in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The intense rains that began on Friday night caused the river's rapid rise, flooding several municipalities, including El Torno, Mairana, Colpa Bélgica, and Buena Vista. In some areas, entire neighborhoods were cut off for several hours.
"Unfortunately, so far we have seven dead, about 20 missing, and more than 600 affected families," stated the Vice Minister of Civil Defense, Alfredo Troche. He warned that the number of victims could increase as the damage assessment continues. Dozens of residents spent the night on their rooftops or in trees awaiting rescue.
