The Bolivian government have declared a nationwide State of Emergency due the large forest fires across the country, and to facilitate international cooperation to suppress 72 active fugo points, three of which affect natural parks.

RELATED:

4,800 Hectares Devastated by Fire in Ecuador

“As the national government has decided to declare a national emergency and for that we are making the procedures as immediately as possible,” notified the Defense Minister Edmundo Novillo in a special meeting.

The official announcement was made by Nivillo, after a meeting in La Paz with his counterparts from Foreign Affairs, Celinda Sosa; Development Planning, Sergio Cusicanqui, and Environment and Water, Alan Lisperguer, with accredited ambassadors in the affected nation.

Novillo also said that this decision will allow for much more active and dynamic inter-ministerial work in coordination with the governorates, municipalities and all institutions involved in supporting the fire suppression issue and health care.

Bajo la dirección de nuestro Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, junto con los ministerios de Defensa, Planificación y Medio Ambiente, estamos gestionando y coordinando con los embajadores y el cuerpo diplomático acreditado en nuestro país para facilitar la llegada de más apoyo… https://t.co/NFECNPIk34

— Luis Alberto Arce Catacora (Lucho Arce) (@LuchoXBolivia) September 7, 2024

To date, 1.5 million hectares of forest and 2.3 million hectares of grassland have been reported affected by the fire, for a total of 3.8 million hectares at the national level. In addition, he said that there are currently 72 active fire points in the country. Of this total, 64 are located in the eastern region of Santa Cruz, the economic engine of Bolivia.

In this regard, Bolivian president Luis Arce thanked his counterpart in Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, for sending a group of experts who are already on Bolivian territory to support actions against forest fires.

The Bolivian government stated that a “team of experts” from the neighboring country entered on this day from the Brazilian municipality of Cáceres to San Matías, a Bolivian municipality located in the eastern region of Santa Cruz.

“The plan to be implemented at the site will include the installation of camps in San Ignacio de Velasco, Parque Noel Kempff Mercado, Concepción and Guarayos. Forest fires will be combated by land and air,” added Arce.

EN ESTA NOTA: