Strong winds cause nearly 1,000 emergencies in Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, is grappling with the aftermath of strong winds that have generated nearly 1,000 emergencies since Thursday. The Rural Electrification Cooperative (CRE) has been working tirelessly to address the widespread disruptions caused by gusts reaching up to 90 km/h.

The severe weather has led to significant damage to the electrical distribution network, including fallen trees, damaged transformers, and power lines affected by debris. CRE has mobilized its full technical and human resources to restore electricity service as quickly as possible to the affected areas in both the capital and the Norte Integrado region.

Despite ongoing efforts, the cooperative still has 86 incidents to correct and 87 others are currently being addressed. The complexity of repairs varies depending on the severity of the damage, with some remote and rural areas facing longer restoration times due to difficult access.

The Bolivian National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology (Senamhi) issued a yellow alert for high-intensity winds, with speeds ranging from 60 to 90 km/h, expected to continue until Sunday. This alert affects several provinces, including Andrés Ibáñez, Warnes, Ichilo, Sara, Obispo Santistevan, and others, indicating that the challenging weather conditions are likely to persist.