Recently, Bolivia’s western Andes mountains and high plateau regions are facing an unusual onslaught of heavy snowfall and cold waves. This abnormal blizzard occurring at the end of the southern hemisphere winter has resulted in over 82,000 households being affected across six provinces in the country, with some mountain roads closed, bus services halted, and flights severely disrupted.
According to reports from various media outlets, the affected areas are mainly concentrated in the high-altitude western provinces of Potosí, Oruro, and La Paz, with approximately 82,728 households impacted and nearly 28,800 hectares of crops damaged.
The blizzard and cold waves have resulted in the closure of several high-altitude roads, including those leading to the northern peaks near La Paz (particularly in the Yungas region), due to snow and ice accumulation. Some long-distance bus services have been suspended, and flights at the La Paz airport have been severely delayed.
Furthermore, the thick snow covering high-altitude grazing lands has led to tens of thousands of llamas and alpacas facing shortages of fodder and the threat of freezing to death. Many herders have had to urgently drive their animals to lower areas in search of food.
The most severely affected province of Potosí, especially the surroundings of the Uyuni Salt Flats, has declared a regional state of emergency. Local authorities have deployed machinery to clear snow from roads and assist in addressing the disaster. Meanwhile, the national government and armed forces are coordinating efforts to deliver emergency food, tools, animal feed, and veterinary supplies to remote high-altitude regions.
Bolivia, located in the southern hemisphere, typically experiences snowfall during the southern hemisphere winter (June to August), especially when cold waves pass through. The extremely high mountain peaks in the Andes, with altitudes exceeding 5000 meters, usually have glaciers and snow throughout the year, attracting climbers and snow enthusiasts. However, the widespread blizzard in regions like the outskirts of the capital city La Paz and the Altiplano plateau, where precipitation is usually scarce, is considered a rare extreme weather event in recent years.