Terrifying moment huge waves overcome La Paz streets after Bolivia is hit by heavy rains that caused reservoirs to fail

Dramatic videos captured the moment the streets of the Bolivian capital La Paz were overwhelmed by waves of water surging over the wall of a reservoir.

The shocking footage showed cars circling an avenue in the La Florida neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon as the city was hit by a rainstorm as water suddenly crept over the reservoir.

A worker walking towards the footbridge could be seen running away from the rising water, nearly crushing at least three vehicles and knocking the man to the ground.

Local outlets reported that the person suffered minor injuries.

Another video showed water rushing over the reservoir walls and flooding the El Alto neighborhood as a city worker stood on a curb trying to divert traffic.

Large waves crashed over a car and knocked the walls of a business, knocking a child to the ground before an adult quickly grabbed her and stopped her from being swept away.

The torrential downpours caused water levels to rise in the Huayñajahuira River and the La Paz River before inundating low-lying neighboring neighborhoods.

The government declared a state of emergency. No deaths were reported Friday.

The start of the rainy season last November caused rivers to overflow and generated landslides that displaced 82,201, according to a UNICEF report on floods in Bolivia published on Tuesday.

Flood warnings have been issued until the end of March by the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service.

Meteorologists suggest that El Niño-Southern Oscillation conditions will extend past March and into April and May. La Niña conditions may continue through April, May and June.

Cobija, which straddles the border with Brazil, dealt with flooding last week as the Acre River sent water rushing into the municipality of nearly 80,000 residents.

At least 2,000 families were temporarily forced to flee their homes.