Landslides and mudslides caused by heavy El Niño rains destroyed an important road near Cochabamba in central Bolivia on Monday (January 4), causing a massive traffic jam. According to local media reports, delays extended trips by up to eight hours.
Thousands of cars, trucks and buses have been stranded for up to 48 hours on the road that connects the cities of Cochabamba and Santa Cruz in the South American country.
Officials said repairs were being made to the road which cracked after being hit by a landslide.
Heavy rains have been causing damages in Bolivia’s central region for over a week.
Travellers complained about the long delays as they waited for the road to be fixed.
An unidentified man said he had been stuck in the same spot for half an hour.
“There is a huge traffic jam. We have been here for half an hour and we are unable to pass,” he said.
Many passengers got out of their buses and decided to walk instead of waiting for the road to be cleared.
Many trucks and heavy loads have also been stuck overnight along the roadside.
An unidentified driver said he had been stuck in traffic for eight hours.
“I’ve been here for an entire day and another night. Now I have been waiting for eight hours, but now it depends on this traffic jam,” he said.
This year’s powerful El Niño weather phenomenon has been causing severe floods in many South American countries, especially in Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil.
Experts said Bolivia would continue to feel its effects throughout January as more torrential rains were expected. (Reuters)
