At least six million fish have died in three rivers of Bolivia due to the intense cold wave sweeping through the country in the past few weeks.
Authorities in the eastern Bolivian province of Santa Cruz declared an alert following the death of fish in the Grande, Pirai and Ichilo rivers that run through the tropical region.
This is an “environmental catastrophe” brought on by the lowest temperatures registered in Santa Cruz in nearly half a century, Gov Ruben Costas told reporters.
He said that environmental experts have found that the rivers are highly polluted by dead fish, and he warned locals not to use those waters.
The cold wave that gripped the Southern Cone of South America last month caused a severe drop in temperatures in southern and eastern Bolivia, even falling below 0 degrees Celsius. Bolivia’s weather department has forecast that the southern and eastern parts of the country will continue to reel under the cold wave this week.