Bolivia Floods 2007/8: Case Study of Causes and Effects of River Flooding in a LIC
Location:
· The Rio Grande is a tributary of the River Amazon. The Rio Grande flows through Bolivia and then into Brazil.
· Bolivia is a land-locked country in South America, just south of the equator, with the Andes mountains in the west of the country.
Causes of the Flooding:
· unusually heavy seasonal rains fell in late 2007, causing the rivers to overflow from November 2007 to January 2008.
· Some of the rain fell as hail which then suddenly melted causing increased run-off from the land into the rivers.
· Frosts have also resulted in the land being frozen and becoming less permeable, therefore also increasing run-off and the likelihood of flooding.
· Steep sided valleys speed up the rate of run-off into the rivers (Andes Mountains).
Effects of the Flooding:
· 40 people at least have died.
· Nearly 26,000 families have been affected, including 11,500 children (less than 17 years old) i.e. 40% of the total.
· Many people injured and needing medical care (which is limited).
· Homes, schools, businesses, hospitals – many are destroyed or damaged.
· Large areas of farmland/crops have been destroyed (an estimated 60,000 hectares) – mainly soya bean, rice, maize, sugar cane.
· Roads have been destroyed – affecting trade with other countries as the goods cannot be exported (especially through Brazil).
· Water has been contaminated, resulting in disease and shortage of drinking water.
· The fuel storage plant at Puerto Villarroel has flooded – destroying the oil and contaminating the water.
· Water pipes have burst in the capital La Paz, affecting a quarter of a million people.
· Food prices have gone up.