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
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.
International
Caracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win
Venezuela has announced the closure of its embassy in Norway, just days after opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Venezuelan diplomatic mission provided no explanation for its decision on Monday.
“It is regrettable,” a ministry spokesperson said. “Despite our differences on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue with Venezuela open and will continue to work in that direction.” The ministry also emphasized that the Nobel Committee operates entirely independently from the Norwegian government.
In its announcement, the Nobel Committee stated that Machado met the criteria established by Alfred Nobel, “embodying the hope for a different future, where the fundamental rights of Venezuelans are heard.”
International
Sheinbaum: Urgent to restore access to towns cut off by heavy rains
Thousands of military personnel and civilians in Mexico worked tirelessly on Tuesday to clear roads blocked by the torrential rains of recent days, which have left more than 300 communities cut off across central and eastern regions of the country. Authorities also launched mass fumigation efforts in several affected areas to prevent the spread of dengue fever.
The official death toll remains at 64, though dozens of people are still missing. President Claudia Sheinbaumacknowledged that the government does not yet know the full situation in many of the isolated villages, which range in population from 500 to 1,000 inhabitants.
“The reopening of roads is one of the greatest urgencies,” Sheinbaum said. “It’s essential to guarantee air bridges, food supplies, clean water, and a proper census of the isolated communities so we can determine the condition of every person living there.”
Private construction companies are also assisting the effort with heavy machinery and technical support to help reopen highways and reconnect rural areas.
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Caracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win
Sheinbaum: Urgent to restore access to towns cut off by heavy rains
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
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