They believe in the power of a deity: people live on the edge of a steep cliff and do not want to move (3 photos + 1 video)

Local residents continue to live in conditions of heightened risk, despite warnings from experts. Increased landslides due to climate change are making the situation even more tense, putting the lives of hundreds of people at risk.





In the city of El Alto, located near the capital of Bolivia, La Paz, hundreds of buildings on the edge of a steep earthen cliff are at risk of devastating landslides. Despite the obvious danger, many locals refuse to leave their homes, linking it to their place of work or cultural traditions.

The buildings in question are located on Avenida Panoramica and in the commercial district of La Ceja. This area of ​​land, recognized as particularly prone to landslides, has become the focus of attention of local authorities. Recent heavy rains in the region have further increased the risk of collapse. However, the owners and residents of the houses are confident that they will cope with the natural threat.

"We are not going to leave this place because this is where we live and work. We will try to control the runoff of rainwater to minimize soil erosion," said one resident, a local shaman known as yatiri.



However, officials say it is impossible to prevent the cliff from collapsing further, and evacuation remains the only way to avoid tragedy.

"The cliff here is almost vertical. If residents do not leave their homes voluntarily, we will have to take measures to ensure their safety," warned Gabriel Pari, the municipal secretary for risk management.



For local shamans, the houses on the cliff have spiritual significance. They plan to use their traditional methods to "calm" the land. According to one Yatiri, a ceremony offering to the earth goddess Pachamama can stabilize the soil.

"It's like feeding the earth, and then it won't move," he said.