Santa Cruz registers 529 heat sources amid wind alert

Bolivia is grappling with a significant number of heat sources, with the Santa Cruz department bearing the brunt of the crisis. On Monday, the country recorded 564 hot spots, a staggering 529 of which were concentrated in Santa Cruz. This surge in fires has already impacted over 26,000 hectares across the nation since the beginning of the year.

Authorities are urging citizens to suspend all burning activities and to report any emerging fires immediately. The situation is particularly dire in Santa Cruz, where the Chiquitania and North Integrated regions face a high probability of fire propagation. Municipal Emergency Operations Centers (COEM) and contingency plans are being activated, with resources and brigades mobilized to critical areas.

Adding to the concern, the Bolivian National Meteorology and Hydrology Service (Senamhi) has issued a "yellow alert" for strong winds in various parts of Santa Cruz. Wind speeds are expected to reach between 60 and 90 kilometers per hour in provinces such as Andrés Ibáñez, Warnes, Ichilo, Sara, and Obispo Santistevan. These conditions, combined with dry vegetation, significantly increase the risk of fires spreading.

The strong winds are also signaling the arrival of a cold front, which is predicted to lower temperatures to around 12 degrees Celsius in the capital city by Wednesday. Meanwhile, Senamhi has also issued alerts for weak to moderate snowfall in parts of Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Potosí, and Tarija, extending into Tuesday night.