The snowfall and sudden drops in temperature caused by the arrival of a cold front in the last hours affected several regions of the departments of Tarija, Santa Cruz, and Chuquisaca. The low temperatures even forced the suspension of schools and producers reported agricultural losses.
The National Meteorological and Hydrological Service (Senamhi) has issued an orange priority alert due to the declines in temperatures and the entry of a cold front from Argentina to Bolivian territory since Saturday.
The secretary of Productive Development of the Governor of Santa Cruz, Luis Alberto Alpire, said that the snowfall had affected crops in the municipalities of Vallegrande, Poster valley, and Quirusilla. The snowfall affected potato, banana, chickpeas and barley crops.
"It is up to our producers to be ready. In the following days these three municipalities will be prone to frost, temperatures below zero, and winds," he said.
At least nine municipalities in Chuquisaca were affected by the cold front; temperatures reached a degree centigrade below zero, and the apple and peach productions were affected. "90% of those crops would be affected," stated Alejandra Limachi, an assemblywoman.
"The entrance of a cold front affected the country starting on Sunday when the temperatures decreased. What's peculiar is that initially we had strong winds from the north and then the front entered with winds from the north, "said Rodrigo Contreras, from the Senamhi.
Meanwhile in Tarija, the snowfall that fell in the early hours of Sunday 17 affected the localities of San Lorenzo, Entre Rios, Cercado, and Padcaya. The snow affected the strawberry and vegetables Senamhi. It also caused obstruction of major city roads and highways.
On Tuesday, authorities decided to suspend classes in Chuquisaca until Friday, July 21, due to the drop in temperatures and the rise of acute respiratory infections.
"We have analyzed the situation with the Departmental Health Services (Sedes) and Senamhi, which informed us that the cold would continue and that it would even continue snowing in some municipalities, so we decided to suspend classes until Friday July 21," said the Director of education, Humberto Tancara
In Santa Cruz, classes were suspended until Wednesday.
According to Contreras, temperatures will gradually increase in the next few days.
Source: la-razon.com