LA PAZ, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- About 20,000 Bolivian families in LaPaz Department have been affected by drought for months, the Bolivian Agency of Information (BAI) reported on Sunday.

    Drought has not only caused damage to local agricultural production but also endangered the lives of animals.

    If it is not raining in the next 30 days, there will be a massive loss of livestock, warned Victor Saravia, an expert from La Paz's Early Warning and Risk Prevention Bureau.

    "We traveled to four regions: Camacho, Ingavi, Pacajes and Loayza, and found that there is a shortage of water for both human consumption and for animals'," said Saravia.

    Another region in extreme water shortage is Ixiamas in the northern part of La Paz.

    "We have received a radiogram saying that if it does not rain in the next 30 days, 6,000 heads of cattle will die," he added.

    The authorities of La Paz will decide Monday where drought emergency is to be declared by the government.