Bolivia's Cold Front: Queues at Hospitals as Temperatures Plummet

Santa Cruz, Bolivia, faces a harsh test as a polar cold front sweeps across the country, bringing with it heavy rain and plummeting temperatures. Hospitals are overwhelmed with patients seeking medical attention, with many forced to wait outside in the freezing conditions. "People are arriving from different neighborhoods, well-bundled in ponchos and blankets," reports Joselio Alba, a Unitel Bolivia reporter on the scene. One woman interviewed, patiently waiting in line with her quilt, explained, "This is the only way to get a number for treatment; I live far away in the countryside and have to come here to sleep outside twice a month." Despite the harsh conditions, the video shows the community's resilience and the efforts of healthcare workers to provide care. The cold front is expected to continue impacting the region for the next few days.