International
Bolivia declares disaster in 90 municipalities as heavy rains continue
The number of municipalities declared in a state of disaster due to intense rains in Bolivia has risen to 90, Vice Minister of Civil Defense Juan Carlos Calvimontes reported on Monday.
“It is no longer 81 municipalities in disaster; now, the number has increased to 90, with an additional 19 municipalitiesunder municipal emergency status,” Calvimontes stated in a press conference. He also noted that the number of affected families has climbed to 368,707.
According to Bolivian authorities, the most affected regions are La Paz (west), Santa Cruz (east), and Cochabamba (center), where heavy rainfall has caused flooding, landslides, and severe infrastructure damage.
“Of the 50 recorded fatalities, 18 are from Cochabamba, the second hardest-hit department after La Paz,” the Vice Minister said.
In Santa Cruz, seven municipalities have been declared disaster zones, particularly in productive areas and the Norte Integrado region. Authorities plan to conduct an aerial assessment to determine intervention measures.
In La Paz, 44 municipalities have been declared disaster areas, with significant urban infrastructure damage, especially in Bajo Llojeta and the southern part of the city.
With 29 municipalities at imminent risk of flooding, the Vice Minister warned of the potential for further river overflows.
To mitigate the impact, the government has deployed heavy machinery to dredge rivers and distribute construction materials to reinforce containment walls.
Meanwhile, the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service has issued a red alert due to the progressive and sudden rise in river levels across seven of the country’s nine departments. The warning will remain in effect until April 5.
International
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from recent rains and floods across several central states has risen to 66, while the federal government has activated air bridges and prioritized assistance in 191 isolated communities.
“Unfortunately, 66 people have died, and 75 remain missing,” the president said during her morning press conference. She added that the official death toll will be updated later in a new report.
As of Tuesday, authorities had reported 64 fatalities. Sheinbaum also announced the creation of a public information center to centralize official data on the deceased, missing persons, damaged homes, and cut-off communities.
According to the president, the number of missing persons has decreased thanks to coordination with state authorities.
“Through calls to phone line 079, 103 people who had been reported missing have now been located,” she explained.
Priority Municipalities
The president noted that the federal government has classified 191 communities as ‘priority’, a designation based mainly on the percentage of homes affected.
International
New road and bridge explosions raise alarm amid indigenous protests in Ecuador
Ecuadorian authorities are investigating two explosions that occurred early Wednesday, one on a road in the southern part of the country and another under a bridge in Guayas province. These incidents follow the car bomb explosion in the coastal city of Guayaquil, also in Guayas, which occurred the day before and left one person dead and 30 injured.
Press reports indicate that one person was injured and several vehicles were damaged in the explosion on the Cuenca-Girón-Pasaje road in the south.
“Besides yesterday’s explosion in Guayaquil, we have received reports of explosives placed on bridges along the Guayaquil-Machala and Machala-Cuenca routes to disrupt traffic,” said Roberto Luque, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT).
On his X social media account, Luque reported that authorities have been deployed to the sites to assess the damage and determine the current condition of the structures.
“What they haven’t achieved with their call for a strike, some are trying to achieve through terrorism,” he stated, referring to the 24 days of protests organized by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie) against rising diesel prices and other demands.
The protests, called at a national level, have Imbabura province as their epicenter. Roadblocks have also been reported in the northern part of Pichincha province, whose capital is Quito, while activities in the rest of the country continue normally.
International
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Ecuador’s Armed Forces carried out an operation on Monday — including airstrikes — against illegal mining in the town of Buenos Aires, in the country’s north, Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo reported.
The mountainous, gold-rich area has been a hotspot for illegal mining since 2017, located in the Andean province of Imbabura.
In 2019, former president Lenín Moreno deployed around 2,400 soldiers to the region in an attempt to curb the illegal activity. “The operation began with mortar fire, followed by gunfire and bombing runs by Supertucano aircraft,” Loffredo said in a video released by the Defense Ministry.
He added that the operation would continue on Tuesday with patrols across the area to locate possible members of “irregular armed groups that may have crossed from the Colombian border.”
The Armed Forces stated on X that the intervention focused on the “complete elimination of multiple illegal mining tunnels” in the areas known as Mina Nueva and Mina Vieja.
The operation coincided with the deployment of a military and police convoy into Imbabura, which has been the epicenter of protests against President Daniel Noboa since September 22, following his decision to scrap the diesel subsidy.
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
New road and bridge explosions raise alarm amid indigenous protests in Ecuador
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
Central America2 days agoGuatemala arrests first escaped gang member after Barrio 18 prison break
-
International5 days agoMaría Corina Machado calls 2025 Nobel Peace prize a victory for venezuelan people
-
International2 days agoMexico reports 64 dead, 65 missing after devastating central region floods
-
International2 days agoVenezuela calls for continued global pressure to secure ‘just peace’ for Palestine
-
International2 days agoPope Leo XIV to skip COP30 in Brazil but plans future visit, Lula confirms
-
International5 days agoNetanyahu says Trump deserved 2025 Nobel Peace prize
-
International4 days agoPeruvian president Jerí leads prison raids to tackle organized crime
-
International4 days agoVenezuela launches ‘Independence 200’ defense plan amid U.S. naval presence
-
Central America3 days agoFraijanes II prison in Guatemala reports gradual escape of 18th Street gang inmates
-
International1 day agoSheinbaum: Urgent to restore access to towns cut off by heavy rains
-
International3 days agoHeavy rains leave dozens dead in Hidalgo, Puebla, and Veracruz
-
International1 day agoArmed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
-
International1 day agoVenezuelan media faces fresh restrictions after reporting on opposition leader’s Nobel win
-
International1 day agoCaracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win
-
International42 minutes agoMexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
-
International45 minutes agoNew road and bridge explosions raise alarm amid indigenous protests in Ecuador