Jorge Quispe / La Paz
Heavy rain yesterday in Santa Cruz delayed 10 national and international flights from the Viru Viru airport, but also flooded streets, avenues and canals, and caused damage to vehicles and even bridge structures.
The storm started at 6:00 and lasted until 10:00; During that time Viru Viru was closed because there was no visibility and therefore national and international flights were delayed or diverted to Cochabamba.
“We have had the closure of the Viru Viru airport due to adverse weather conditions from 7:35 a.m. to 9:05 a.m., when the first aircraft was able to take off. Due to this closure, two BOA aircraft flying from La Paz to Santa Cruz were diverted to the Cochabamba airport,” Ronald Casso, manager of the state company, said in a statement.
Three BOA ships were unable to take off from that terminal, in addition to others from Amaszonas and Aerolineas Argentinas.
“Unfortunately, the direct effect on 10 flights in the morning will have a delay effect on more than 40 domestic flights this Wednesday, due to the connections and subsequent scheduled flights with the aircraft involved,” added Casso. Flights resumed at 9:30.
On one of those flights, which was to land in Santa Cruz, was a journalist from Página Siete, who later reported that on two occasions they tried to land in Viru Viru and then returned to Cochabamba.
In the city
The rain transformed the streets and avenues of Santa Cruz into real rivers. Images sent by neighbors showed how a black vehicle, a Porsche, was trapped by the water, while the owner tried to ask for help on the roof of the motorized vehicle.
On another side, a white car was swept away by the force of the water. In other videos, a tow truck was also seen embedded in a canal.
In the Fortaleza neighborhood, near the Los Lotes area, the base of a bridge structure was totally weakened. People from the Mayor’s Office placed caution tape.
In the Cambódromo sector, the avenues disappeared and gave way to a river, where the vehicles tried to advance.
The rain lasted four hours, which was enough to flood this city, where drainage channels are scarce.
