US declares drought disaster for parts of Puerto Rico as dry conditions persist
Summary
The U.S. government declared a drought disaster for parts of Puerto Rico due to severe and extreme dry conditions affecting many areas. This allows farmers in 26 municipalities to access emergency loans as the drought has severely impacted agriculture and water supply.Key Facts
- Over 33% of Puerto Rico is experiencing extreme drought, and about 30% is under severe drought.
- July was the driest month in over 120 years for San Juan, Puerto Rico’s capital.
- Governor Jenniffer González requested the drought disaster declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- The declaration covers 26 municipalities, including Cabo Rojo, Ponce, Yauco, Aibonito, and Lares.
- Farmers have had to stop production since May due to lack of water, affecting crops like coffee, cacao, plantains, bananas, and vegetables.
- Many farmers are losing money and some have had to find other jobs to survive.
- The Puerto Rican National Guard is distributing and purifying water, prioritizing hospitals and elderly residents.
- The drought is linked to the El Niño weather pattern and worsened by damaged water infrastructure on the island.
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