Gigantic forest fires are currently ravaging Bolivia, leading to the closure of many schools due to the resulting air pollution, the country’s authorities announced on Wednesday (October 25).
The government suspended classes from Wednesday to Friday in most cities in four of Bolivia’s nine departments. The measure could be extended next week.
The Minister of Education, Edgar Pary, indicated during a press conference that “3,650 educational units are affected”, or 15% of all schools. However, he did not specify the number of students impacted. Classes had already been suspended last week in Santa Cruz (east), the economic powerhouse and most populous city in Bolivia. The measure now concerns public and private schools in La Paz (west), Cochabamba (center) and Beni (north-east).
Black smoke in cities
According to the environment ministry, some two million hectares of forests and pastures have burned since the start of the year due to the drought hitting the Andean country.
The skies over the capital, La Paz, and Santa Cruz are obscured by black smoke. Health Minister Maria René Castro recommended residents wear masks and she invited the elderly, children and pregnant women to stay at home.
