Heavy rains caused a section of the Aruntaya River bank to burst open and overflow through the Bolivian city of La Paz, which is home to the seat of the nation's government.
Sixteen deaths were reported, including a worker who was swept away by the strong currents of water. Several homes were affected and raging floods and mudslides also affected surrounding neighbourhoods.
The floods were the latest to affect Bolivia in the rain season, following weeks of torrential rain in the north of the country.