Bolivia's Deputy Minister of Civil Defense announced on Monday that flooding from the Piray River in the east of the country over the weekend has resulted in 20 deaths and displaced more than 2,000 families. According to authorities, the natural disaster was caused by heavy rainfall that caused the river's water level to rise sharply. Several settlements were affected, with homes and infrastructure destroyed. Rescue services are evacuating victims and providing humanitarian aid.
"This is one of the most serious disasters in the history of our region," the Deputy Minister stated, adding that the government has mobilized all resources to mitigate the effects of the disaster.
