Terrifying moment huge waves overcome La Paz streets after Bolivia is hit with heavy rains that caused reservoirs to fail
Dramatic videos captured the moment streets in the Bolivian capital La Paz were flooded by waves of water rushing over the wall of a reservoir.
The shocking footage showed cars circling a laneway in the La Florida neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon as the city was hit by a downpour as water suddenly crept over the reservoir.
A worker walking toward the pedestrian bridge was seen running away from the floodwaters, nearly crushing at least three vehicles and knocking the man to the ground.
Local media reported that the person suffered minor injuries.
Heavy rainfall caused reservoirs to flood La Paz, Bolivia, on Wednesday. In one incident, a man was crossing the street when water poured over the wall of a reservoir, knocking him to the ground
A child was seen falling to the ground and then being picked up by an adult moments after water poured over the wall of a reservoir during a rainstorm in La Paz, Bolivia, on Wednesday.
A second video showed water pouring over the reservoir walls and flooding the El Alto neighborhood as a city worker stood on a curb to direct traffic.
Large waves crashed over a car and crashed into the walls of a business, knocking a child to the ground before an adult quickly grabbed her and prevented her from being swept away.
The torrential rains caused water levels in the Huayñajahuira River and La Paz River to rise before flooding low-lying neighboring neighborhoods.
The government declared a state of emergency. No deaths had been reported as of Friday.
A city worker runs from water rushing over a reservoir wall as people stayed in a shop in the Bolivian capital La Paz on Wednesday
Floodwaters poured over the reservoir wall in La Paz as heavy rain devastated the Bolivian capital on Wednesday, sending vehicles sliding onto the streets
The start of the rainy season last November caused rivers to overflow and landslides that displaced 82,201 people. UNICEF report on flooding in Bolivia published on Tuesday.
The National Meteorological and Hydrological Service has issued flood warnings until the end of March.
Meteorologists suggest that El Niño and Southern Oscillation conditions will extend beyond March and into April and May. La Niña conditions may persist into April, May and June.
Cobija, which borders Brazil, suffered flooding last week as the Acre River gushed water into the municipality of nearly 80,000 residents.
At least 2,000 families were temporarily forced to flee their homes.