Two indigenous communities in San Buenaventura evacuated as fire approaches

Residents of the Tacana indigenous communities of Tres Hermanos and Alta Marani in the municipality of San Buenaventura, La Paz, were evacuated due to the danger they faced due to their proximity to forest fires.

Staff from the San Buenaventura mayor’s office took to loudspeakers to inform residents that they had to leave their homes and move to a safer location. This work is carried out with the help of medical staff.

Officials warn that the houses in these indigenous communities are mostly built of dry leaves and wood and can easily burn with the help of fire and wind.

The growth of the fire over the past few hours has caused concern among residents as problems are caused not only by the burned land, but also by respiratory infections and conjunctivitis in children and the elderly.

“There is smoke, our children are coughing and have fever and we want you to help us,” asked one woman as she evacuated her home with a minor child in her arms.

Residents lamented that despite efforts to extinguish the fire, the fire could not be brought under control.