The low rainfall in Cuba during the first quarter of 2015 has led to an “intense and prolonged” drought that is affecting 63 percent of the island, with the eastern provinces feeling the worst effects.
Some 8 percent of the island’s territory is currently experiencing a severe drought, while 18 percent has moderate drought conditions and 37 percent has a slight drought, the weather service’s climate center, or CENCLIM, said in a report.
The drought is now affecting the water supplies of farms in the eastern provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, Guantanamo and Camaguey.
The reservoirs in Santiago de Cuba are currently at only 30 percent of capacity, a shortfall of 450 million cubic meters of water, with the effects being felt in neighborhoods on the city’s outskirts, where some households have gone 16 days without receiving water, state television reported.
The drought started in November and April is considered a transitional month as the rainy season approaches, the CENCLIM said.
The rainfall deficit in Holguin reached 51 percent between September and April, affecting more than 32,800 people who are now depending on tanker trucks for water.
The drought has caused crop losses and is now affecting planting schedules and crop yields, the daily Granma reported.
Water resources officials have set up distribution sites, installed pumps at wells adjacent to urban areas, drilled new wells and built pipes.
Source - http://www.laht.com/
