Bolivia experiences severe floods due to the overflow of major rivers, including the Beni, Mamoré, Acre, and Ichilo rivers, particularly during the rainy season. These rivers, which flow through the Amazon Basin, frequently exceed their banks due to heavy rainfall, impacting lowland regions such as Beni, Pando, and northern La Paz. In early 2024, heavy rainfall caused floods and landslides across eight of the country's nine departments, resulting in at least 52 fatalities and affecting over 22,000 families. The floods damaged more than 1,300 homes and destroyed approximately 900, leaving many in urgent need of shelter and educational support.
Historically, Bolivia has faced substantial economic impacts due to flooding. The 2007-2008 La Niña phenomenon led to damages and losses estimated at $511 million, equivalent to 3.4% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The agriculture sector was the most affected, with losses amounting to $276.5 million, followed by the transport infrastructure sector, which incurred damages estimated at $108 million. In November 2024, intense rainfall caused the Pasajahuira River to overflow, which flooded the Bajo Llojeta neighborhood near La Paz. This event resulted in at least 26 injuries, damage to over 40 homes, and the deployment of approximately 300 military personnel for evacuation and cleanup operations.
Flooding in Angola is caused by heavy rainfall, which is increased by climate change and the country's geographical layout, including its major river systems. Angola experiences a rainy season from October to May, during which the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone contributes to intense precipitation, particularly in the northeastern regions. Major rivers such as the Cuanza, Zambezi, and Cunene contribute to flooding.
The Cuvelai River system, part of the Cunene River basin, inundates areas in Southern Angola, affecting provinces such as Cunene and Cuando Cubango. Floods from the Cuanza River have historically affected surrounding urban provinces, including Luanda. According to the World Bank, the economic impact of floods in Angola can reach up to $75 million annually.
Between 2005 and 2017, floods affected over 86 percent of the population, resulting in the displacement of over 480,000 people. In April 2023, heavy rainfall caused flooding that resulted in at least 20 fatalities and displaced thousands of people across several provinces.
Peru has faced severe flooding, often associated with the El Niño phenomenon, resulting in substantial economic losses. For instance, the 2017 El Niño-caused floods caused damages exceeding $3.1 billion, equivalent to approximately 1.6% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). These floods resulted in at least 162 fatalities and severely impacted infrastructure, including the destruction of over 150,000 homes, 500 kilometers of roadways, and more than 500 bridges. Forecasts suggest that by 2030, the country could experience a 26% increase in annual economic losses due to flooding, relative to the year 2000, potentially rising to 174% by 2100.
The Peruvian government has implemented proactive measures to mitigate the harmful effects of such natural disasters. In December 2023, President Dina Boluarte announced the allocation of S/4.5 billion (approximately $1.2 billion) for prevention and risk reduction strategies, to reduce the effects of potential El Niño events. This plan includes developing storm drainage systems to prevent urban flooding, implementing dengue control measures, and acquiring machinery essential for disaster response. Additionally, S/795 million (about $212.4 million) has been designated for humanitarian aid, with S/161 million (approximately $43 million) allocated for the procurement of necessary equipment.
Floods in Algeria are caused by heavy rainfall, particularly during the autumn and winter months, with an average of 174 flood events occurring annually. Flash floods account for approximately 62.20% of these events, involving major rivers such as the El Harrach, Chélif, and M'zab. A significant flood event occurred in Bab El Oued in November 2001, resulting in 900 fatalities and substantial economic losses. Between 2000 and 2011, Algeria reported 1,014 deaths due to flooding, Urbanization and storm drainage systems have been identified as factors related to flood risk.
According to recent studies, floods cause average annual economic losses equivalent to around 0.7% of Algeria's GDP, primarily due to the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. The Algerian government provides approximately 255 million USD annually for disaster response and mitigation efforts related to flooding.