Latin American News Roundup February
As specialist logistics service providers to and from the region, Envío has summarised a few recent items of Latin American news from this month.
Bolivia – Torrential Rain and Floods Wreak Havoc
Hundreds of towns and villages in the South American country have been put on high-alert, as torrential rains have continued to wreak havoc.
33 people have now died since November due to rain, which has triggered landslides and floods. These devastating consequences are reported to be eight times worse than the same period last year. Officials are now carefully monitoring a number of dams which they fear could overflow.
Caribbean – Oil Spill Spreads Throughout Caribbean
A capsized barge off the coast of Tobago has been leaking oil since earlier this month, which has spread hundreds of miles across the Caribbean.
The oil has spread as far as the island Bonaire, which is positioned 50 miles north of the Venezuelan coast, and has been described as “serious threat to both humans and nature”.
Panama Canal – Vessel Passage Restrictions Update
The Panama Canal Authority have stated that there will be no further changes to vessel transit restrictions until at least April, when it will be the end of the dry season and they will re-evaluate water levels.
The daily limit for the number of vessels that can use the waterway is currently at 24, which will stay in place for the next few weeks. In usual conditions around 38-39 vessels can transit the canal each day.
Peru – Health Emergency Declared
Peru has declared a health emergency due to rapidly increasing ‘dengue’ cases, caused by higher than usual temperatures attributed to the El Nino weather pattern.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. It is frequently asymptomatic, but can lead to high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin itching and skin rash.
The nation’s health ministry have reported that 31,000 dengue cases have been registered this year, which is twice as high as the same period in 2023. 32 Peruvians have already died from the virus in 2024, compared to 18 last year.
