Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Santa Cruz (Agenzia Fides) - More than a thousand families are homeless due to the heavy rains and flooding in the valley of Santa Cruz (Bolivia).
According to a note from the head of the civil protection sent to Fides, flooding has caused severe damage to crops in the area. To meet the immediate needs of families pasta, rice and water tanks have been sent.
Heavy rains are caused by the meteorological phenomenon known as "El Niño".
In 1997 "El Niño" killed over 24,000 people and caused 34 billion dollars damage.
According to the Climate Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States, assessment models predict that there is a 90% chance that El Niño will continue until winter and a 85% chance that it will continue until spring 2016.
It has been raining heavily in the last 10 days, from Mexico to Argentina, along the Andes, exceeding all expectations, with dramatic consequences as described by the newspapers of the countries affected. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 19/08/2015)
