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Possible evacuation of Bolivian
city in case of flooding
BENI,
Bolivia, Feb. 25 (PL) —. Residents of Trinidad,
capital of the northern department of Beni, may be
evacuated due to the danger of flooding, something
unprecedented in the history of the region,
according to authorities.
President Evo Morales has instructed Civil Defense
authorities to study an emergency plan for
evacuating the city’s tens of thousands of
inhabitants due to the dangerous rise in floodwaters
after heavy rain associated with El Niño weather
phenomenon.
According to official reports, the roadway
encircling the city that acts as a dike to protect
it from flooding was just 40 centimeters short of
being washed over.
“We
have instructed authorities regarding the evacuation
plan, because if that water flows over the dike, all
of Trinidad will be flooded,” Morales said.
The
president noted that authorities are concerned about
protecting livestock, but more so about saving human
lives.
“For
now, we have allocated about $15 million for meeting
those demands, and plans are to obtain $20 million
more for mitigating damages in the east,” he said.
(Translated
by Granma International)
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